Chronic fatigue overcome, now for the world

ROBYN EDIE/The Southland Times

HEAVY LIFTING: Marion Troon warms up ahead of the world masters weightlifting championships in Poland later this month under the watchful eye of coach Barry Rait.

Invercargill weightlifter Marion Troon

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Marion Troon claims that the sport of weightlifting has transformed her life for the better.

Every day was a constant struggle for the Invercargill woman 10 years ago, because of the debilitating illness known as chronic fatigue syndrome – which causes persistent tiredness, muscle pain and headaches.

Things were so bad for Troon that she recalls barely having enough energy to wash her hair in the shower.

Troon's livelihood changed dramatically after hearing what the anaerobic nature of weightlifting could do for chronic fatigue sufferers.

She went along to the gym to work with local weightlifting coach Barry Rait and what has followed over the past eight years is nothing short of extraordinary.

Troon, who is now 60, has developed into one of the best women's masters weightlifters in the world and has broken numerous records in her age and weight class.

Tomorrow, she will head away to the Polish city of Ciechanow for her third world masters world championships with Rait and admitted that weightlifting had been a godsend for her.

"Weightlifting has been my saviour," she said.

"It's helped me get in control of my chronic fatigue syndrome."

Rait remembers Troon's first experience with weightlifting eight years ago and said he saw the potential in her back then.

"I remember she was pretty ill, but getting better.

"She was being a bit adventurous and found it suited her ...

"She just went on and on and has taken to it like a duck to water."

Troon heads to Poland with a ton of confidence behind her after some outstanding recent lifts.

At the New Zealand masters weightlifting championships last Sunday, she produced phenomenal results, despite having been struck down by illness.

She achieved a new clean and jerk national masters record of 52 kg and a total of 90kg in her 63kg bodyweight category.

That follows on from from the final national league competition last month, where she also broke the New Zealand snatch record of 40kg. All of her lifts at the competition, where in excess of the present masters world records.

Troon will be the only lifter in her 58kg weight-class in Poland, but has set herself the lofty goal of being the top competitior in her 60-64 age category.

"I want to win the best lifter in my age-group ... I'd like to total 100kg, but I'm not going to.

"If I do really well, I should total 95kg."

Competing at two previous world masters championships in Canada (2005) and France (2006) gave Troon a good understanding about what to expect in Poland. She said it was important to maintain focus and not get carried away by the hype and excitement of competing at such an elite event.

Troon will continue with her usual training regime on arrival on Poland, but will not lift in the two days before her competition on September 18.

"I've done a lot of heavy strength work and now it's into the speed and power. I need to be fast. Weightlifting is all about technique and speed," she said.

Troon has received tremendous support from family and friends in the lead-up to the world masters championships and hoped to make everyone proud.

"I've had so many cards and best wishes. It's so motivating. I want to do well for New Zealand and Southland."

- © Fairfax NZ News