We’re staunch supporters of extraordinary people, so being part of Kanah’s team makes perfect sense for us.
Kanah is driven, passionate and hardworking – her high performance is driven by her values and behaviour and she acts as inspiration for us as we transform our business.
As a Kiwi insurer, we’re proud to support Kanah, whose Pacific heritage, values and energy align with our brand goals to challenge the market. We will be there for Kanah to cheer her on as she impresses and inspires us all with her focus of reaching the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 and the events that follow.
Kanah’s journey into weightlifting
Kanah’s weightlifting career began at the age of 13 after she realised through doing CrossFit training that she enjoyed lifting weights more than doing cardio. After coaches recognised her talent with weights, they asked her to enter a competition, where she placed second and broke nine New Zealand weightlifting records. Her performance at this event caught the attention of Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand officials. Kanah was then selected to attend a weightlifting institute in New Caledonia to train and learn about the sport. From there Kanah has literally gone from strength to strength and continues to train under the watchful eye of her Coach Richie Patterson.
Kanah’s success
Kanah has since won gold in the Youth, Junior and Senior U75Kg weight divisions at the 2018 Oceania Weightlifting Championships and earnt herself a senior title at this event, making her the first NZ youth athlete to do so.
Prior to competing at the Buenos Aires Olympics in 2018 Kanah had broken numerous New Zealand and Oceania records. Due to her success and her tenacity, dedication and vibrant nature Kanah was selected as flagbearer for the New Zealand Youth Olympic Games team. Kanah lifted a personal best clean and jerk of 116kgs in Buenos Aires to take fourth place, and is now more driven than ever to succeed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
In order to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Kanah needs to compete in six international events in order to accumulate enough points to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. She has already competed in the EGAT Cup in Thailand Feb 7-10 and has the following events ahead of her.
Kanah’s international competition schedule
Dates |
Event and Results |
Achievements |
Location |
14 October, 2018 |
Youth Olympics
4th place Junior 76KG+ weight category
Flag bearer for New Zealand
|
Broke 6 NZ records |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
9 February, 2019 |
EGAT Cup
5th place Junior 76KG weight category
Flag bearer - opening ceremony
|
Broke 3 NZ records |
Chiang Mai, Thailand |
3 March, 2019
|
Auckland Championships
1st place Juniors U81KG weight category
2nd place Seniors U81KG weight category (based on Sinclair)
|
Broke 10 NZ records
- 7 Junior
- 3 Senior |
Auckland |
28 April, 2019
|
Arafura Games
1st place Juniors 76KG weight category
|
Broke 3 NZ records
Broke 3 Oceania records |
Darwin, Australia |
19 May 2019 |
North Island Championships
1st place Juniors 81KG weight category
1st place Open Woman's 81KG weight category |
TBC |
Auckland |
5 June, 2019
|
IWF Junior World Championships
1st place for Snatch 76KG weight category
3rd place overall 76KG weight category
|
First Gold Medal ever
won for NZ at this event |
Suva, Fiji |
Upcoming competition schedule
Dates |
Event and Results |
Location |
July 9 - 14 |
Pacific Games
|
Apia, Samoa |
September 18 - 27 |
IWF World Championships
|
Pattaya, Thailand |
April 25 - 30, 2020 |
Oceania Championships
|
Venue TBC |