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GEORGE
TAAMARU - NEW ZEALAND’S BEST POWER LIFTER |
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By Sandra Kailahi |
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Cook Islander George
Taamaru is New Zealand’s best able body and disabled Bench Press
lifter.
He finished seventh at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester with a lift
of 240kgs and won gold from the 3rd Para Olympic World Powerlifting
Championships in Kuala Lumpur with another personal best of 242.5kg.
Eleven years ago George’s left leg was amputated above the knee after a
motorcycle accident in the Cook Islands. He came to New Zealand over
five years ago for a better life and now has several New Zealand
Powerlifting titles behind his name.
“When I came to New Zealand, I didn’t really know much about power
lifting but a woman at the rehabilitation centre showed me a list of
sports I could get involved with, that’s when I saw it. She wanted me
to do the shot-put and discus but I wanted to do some heavy lifting,”
says George.
That was in 1999, the same year that he won a gold medal in the sport.
“It was something that really motivated me and helped me to set short,
medium and long term goals. All the things I liked before like smoking
and drinking, I have put them behind.”
George’s coach, James Tunnicliffe is also the National Powerlifting
Coach and a great support for George.
“I saw George at a competition in Hamilton in 1999 and recognised his
potential straight away and I’ve been with him ever since.”
Tunnicliffe says George is currently ranked 9th in the world in his
weight category of 100 kilos plus. He finished 5th at the last Para
Olympics in Australia. He holds the current New Zealand Dead Lift
title, Oceania Lift of 222.5 kilos and now because of rule changes, he
holds the New Zealand able body title with a personal best of 265
kilos.
He says “The great thing is that George hasn’t reached his personal
best yet and we are expecting greater things to come.”
When George first came to New Zealand he enrolled at AIT now called AUT
or the Auckland University of Technology in a NZQA Business
Administration Course, Level One. He completed that along with level
two and three and is now working |
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Cook
Islander George Taamaru is New Zealand’s best able body and
disabled Bench Press lifter, eleven years ago George’s left leg
was amputated after a motorcycle accident in the Cook Islands. |
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George at the 2001 World Bench Press Champs in Christchurch, won
gold from the 3rd Para Olympic World Powerlifting Championships
in Kuala Lumpur. |
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George Taamaru and Coach James Tunnicliffe. George holds the New
Zealand Dead Lift title, Oceania Lift of 222.5 kilos and the New
Zealand able body title with a personal best of 265 kilos. |
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towards a degree in
Business Administration majoring in Marketing and Management. His
eventual aim is to get a qualification in sports science so he can use
his experience and knowledge in the sport.
Many people have helped George get him to where he is today. Lagoon
Leisure and Fitness in Panmure sponsor him and that’s where he trains
regularly. He is also well supported by his family, girlfriend Lisah
and friends.
“I want to also thank God for looking after me especially in my old
ways and bringing me back in this life. I know he has plans for me
because this is what I am meant to be doing for my future. I want to
stick the New Zealand flag on top of the world and be proud to
represent this country and I also want my parents to be proud of me”
says George.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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