UNDER the guidance of their gold medal-winning parents William (14), Oliver (13) and Charlotte (11) Saxton are making their own gains in the national weight lifting circuit.
The children of Olympic lifters Andrew and Jay Saxton have been lifting since they were nine respectively, as a means of gaining strength and co-ordination to aid in their pursuit of other sports.
It was not long before the youngsters began to excel within the family sport, and this month the Shelley-based trio returned from Sydney’s 2016 Australian Under-15s and Youth Championships with the weight of medals in their bags.
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READ NOWWilliam beat out his 69kg class lifting 80 kilos in a snatch and clearing 90 kilos in the clean and jerk, winning the Under-15s category and coming second overall.
Brother Oliver achieved a personal best in the snatch, lifting 40kg.
Charlotte ranked second in the 44kg class, snatching 23kg and lifting 30kg in the clean and jerk.
Jay Saxton said it was an exceptional result for the youngsters, who train from home with their parents.
“Weight lifting is a good base for all sports,” she said.
The boys, who go to Rossmoyne Senior High School, couple their weight lifting with high impact cardio including hockey, while Regent College student Charlotte plays netball.
Mrs Saxton said there was no expectation the children would eventually compete internationally.
“Whatever they want to do their own passion will determine,” she said.