London 2012: Oliver believes late wake-up call helped set personal bests

Great Britain's Jack Oliver competes in the Men's 77kg weightlifting at the ExCel Arena, London. Photo credit: Steve Parson/PA wire

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
2:30 PM

Olympic weightlifting: Student had to be woken up by coach after sleeping late on morning of Games debut

Jack Oliver has revealed he overslept this morning, hours before setting two personal bests in the Olympic 77kg weightlifting competition at the ExCel Arena in London.

The 21-year-old from Sidcup raised 140kgs in the first snatch session and then twice carded PBs in the clean and jerk competition – with 165 and 170kgs beating his his previous best of 162kgs.

It was only good enough to finish fourth out of five weightlifters but, after he failed three snatch attempts on the same stage at the British Championships in May, it marked a successful Olympic debut for the youngster.

However, it came after the student had to be woken up before competing, though Oliver believes that it could have contributed to his achievement.

He said: “I woke up an hour late this morning to the sound of my coach banging on my bedroom door. The sleep did me good and I had less time to think about the competition.

“I just got on with it. I’m really pleased with the PBs especially as in the warm-up area I struggled to lift 153kg in the clean and jerk.”

Oliver also believes that the support from the partisan crowd helped him in is lifts, saying: “I’m convinced the crowd helped me take off 10kg from the weight on the bar with their support rather than putting it on. They were great.

“My objective was to make PBs at the Olympics and I have done it.”