Kelly ready to raise the bar

By Amy Simmons

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Damon Kelly lifts two cars a day. Well, almost.

Technically he lifts the equivalent of two tonnes in weight over the course of his sometimes double, hour-and-a-half training sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

He's been building up his strength, day in, day out, for the past 10 years - and his efforts are paying off.

The 26-year-old Brisbane boy is Australia's number one weightlifter.

He won silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, came ninth at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and is aiming to take home gold from the Delhi Games in two weeks time.

And his career, it would seem, is not even at its peak.

He's hoping to make the 2012 Olympics in London as well as the following Commonwealth Games in Glascow before retiring.

For now though Kelly is focused on Delhi, where his goal is to lift 175 kilograms in the snatch category and 225 kg in the clean and jerk.

That would give him a total of at least 400 kilos, which he says he'll need to win the gold. His best total is currently 392 kilos, which he notched up at the Olympic trials back in 2008.

Kelly says Delhi is the pinnacle of his career so far.

"It'll be one of the most important comps to date because I'm probably starting to get to the peak of my career as a lifter in the next few years," he said.

"I never know what's going to happen in the future so I never know if I'll have this chance to be in the position to win a gold medal again.

"So I've just got to do everything I can to get it."

Last year Kelly suffered three injuries in a row, but this year, things have taken a turn for the better.

He's been lifting personal bests and looking stronger than ever, according to his coach, Miles Wydall.

"After Beijing he kept having lots of niggling injuries, but this time he's had a really good run and he's doing a lot of PBs in training and he's looking the best he's ever looked," Wydall said.

"He's definitely got a lot more in him. Heavyweights are known to develop later in their career and that's what Damo has done."

Kelly admits weightlifting is his life and when he has a night off training, he doesn't know what to do.

His days are largely consumed by eating, resting and lifting.

When training heavily, his schedule consists of: eggs on toast for breakfast; gym session number one; a protein shake, fruit and yoghurt for morning tea; resting and stretching; sandwich, muesli bar and more fruit for lunch; more resting and more stretching; gym session number two; followed by more food, another protein shake, dinner, and sleep.

But it's his passion for the sport that keeps him going.

"It's a true test of yourself - mental and physical strength together," he said.

"Just that feeling of getting a PB after you could have been training for a year and nothing happens, but then it all comes together on the one day.

"It's a fantastic feeling when you lift well and you get what you want."

Despite having a body that weighs an intimidating 146 kilos and vocals that let out regular grunts and groans, Kelly is a quiet achiever, described by those who know him as a gentle giant - with a wicked sense of humour.

"I think what people don't see is Damo's got a really good sense of humour and he's really smart and quick-witted," Wydall said.

"He gives some of the best one-liners I've ever heard, he's always cracking us up with his one-liners.

"He's also very, very good with the kids in the gym.

"He's just great with them and he really likes to encourage and nurture the young lifters in the club."

Kelly is studying to be a coach and says he wants to boost awareness of the sport.

His advice to budding lifters: "Keep focused and keep going, it's a tough sport, it's not something you can just pick up straight away," he said.

"It takes years to try and get the right technique and then you start building up your strength.

"Just stick at it, it's tough, but it's worth it in the end."

What he didn't pass on though, was that being a super heavyweight has its downsides.

"It's hard to buy clothes sometimes, so I have to buy big men's clothes," Kelly said.

"And I didn't fit on any rides at Movie World last year... the harnesses wouldn't go past my shoulders."

Wydall says it's Kelly's persistence that's got him this far.

"Damo is very much a guy who turns up and chips away at things," he said.

"He's a grafter, someone who does the right thing day in day out... and he has slowly risen up through the ranks."

But if you asked Kelly's mum, she has also played a part in his success.

Throughout his career, Kelly has worn his mum's tiny Infant of Prague medal in his right shoe as a lucky charm.

Now he has double the luck, just in time for Delhi.

"Mum got me two new ones for the new shoes I got, so I've got one in each shoe now," he said.

"It used to be to try and heal my injured knee, but I think now both are just to keep me safe and injury free... touch wood."