Girl Power: Going for Gold


Girl Power: Going for Gold

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This year three extraordinary weightlifting girls have one

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big dream.

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To muscle their way into the biggest competition on earth -

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the London Olympics.

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God, I so want to be part of the 2012 squad.

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-That would mean everything to me.

-It's really exciting.

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But to get there they face 12 hard months of heavy training...

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My body's just hurting.

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..and two massive international tests.

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SHOUTING

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INDISTINCT

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This weight is nothing. Just snatch it.

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The girls are attempting to lift up to twice their own body weight.

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Can they handle the pressure?

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I don't believe it.

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Take the pain?

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And succeed in the battle with their own weight going up and down?

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-Breakfast!

-I really want bacon.

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Just asking you not to bring McDonalds into the house

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for one daughter while the other one sits there literally starving.

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There's only two places on the Olympic team for womens'

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weightlifting. Who will claim the once in a lifetime prize

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of standing strong for Britain?

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Right, clothes.

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Steal some from in here.

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17-year-old Zoe Smith is leaving her home in London to train full

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time as a weightlifter in Leeds.

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Oh God. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

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It's going to be quite fun.

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Obviously the training is going to be tough but you would be silly

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if you didn't think it was going to be tough basically.

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Bloody hell.

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She's given up her school now so it just seems the right thing.

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She's got one year to go to the Olympics, so if you can't make

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a real go of it now and being given this opportunity to really

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focus on training for a year - I think it's a sacrifice worth making.

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I am slightly nervous. It's just helpful to

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have your parents around I suppose.

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Come on, get organised.

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-I'll miss you.

-Oh, thanks.

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I started weightlifting when I was 12.

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I was a gymnast like a normal girl once.

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I was always explosive but not particularly graceful.

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-Bye.

-Have a good trip up, won't you?

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The line they used to get me into weightlifting from gymnastics

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was, "You're very powerful but you're never going to be

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"an Olympic gymnast, but you just might be good at weightlifting."

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You don't really need a lot of grace in weightlifting do you?

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So this is the perfect sport for me.

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After winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games

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when she was just 16, Zoe was tipped as having Olympic potential.

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But then her funding was axed when the sport's governors thought

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she wasn't showing enough commitment,

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or working hard enough to keep her body weight down.

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But now she's decided to give up her A levels

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and put all her efforts into making the team.

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Eventually it got sorted out

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and I decided I was going to come full time

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and show them my commitment.

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God, I so want to be part of the 2012 squad.

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But it's going to be so massive

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because it's going to be like an exclusive team of athletes

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and you're either part of that or you're not.

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To be part of that would be absolutely fantastic.

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Zoe has a hard year ahead at the Olympic Training Centre in Leeds.

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But worrying about how much she can lift isn't her only battle.

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My biggest issue is probably the body weight category problem.

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Like boxers, weightlifters are divided into categories

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according to their body weight

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and only compete against athletes of a similar size.

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So being in the right body weight class can make all the difference.

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SHRIEKS

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Zoe is in the category for athletes weighing up to 63 kilograms,

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Or 9 stone 12.

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She's a healthy weight but to have the best chance of Olympic

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qualification she's hoping to come down a weight category

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which will mean losing at least 5 kilos.

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I'm in the 63s at the moment

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and I'll b competing at the Worlds at 63,

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but I want to come down to 58, cos that will make me more competitive.

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It's going to be hard to stay strong

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and come down a body weight category.

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It's just so hard to stick to boring food all the time. I like chocolate.

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But I think it's worth the torture basically.

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In Leeds Zoe is moving in with one of her rivals for the Olympic team.

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But 18-year-old Hannah Powell is also her best friend.

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Thank you so much.

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'It's still sinking in that the Olympics is next year.'

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I try not to get too excited about it

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and just try and focus on what I've got to do to get there,

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but at the same time it is really exciting.

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Hannah has been lifting weights since she was 11,

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inspired by her dad and uncle who were both power lifters.

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SHE GRUNTS

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She's quite scary-looking, isn't she?

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Yeah. A bit manly.

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Everyone thinks everyone in weightlifting's like that.

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'People associate weightlifting with screaming.'

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Big men in sweaty, horrible, tight leotards

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and hairy people and that kind of thing.

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'People are quite shocked

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'when I tell them I do weightlifting.'

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I have had to prove myself a few times, cos some people just refuse

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to believe it. I'm only four foot eight and a half.

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'I think weightlifting has given me a better physique,

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'cos if I didn't lift, I think I'd just be dead skinny.'

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Like, weirdly skinny!

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So I think it's given me a bit of definition and shape.

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'I've worked really, really hard for the last seven years.

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'It's never been easy.'

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I've had to kind of build my life around weightlifting.

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Not just fit weightlifting in.

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Most teenagers my age are going out and partying

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and doing what they want and trying new things.

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But now it's nice to be a potential Olympian.

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Pitched against Hannah and Zoe, 22-year-old Helen Jewell

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is also hoping for a place on the Olympic team.

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She's already established as a strong contender.

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'I've been competing for ten years now.'

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This is the duvet from the Commonwealth Games

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that we brought back.

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That really ignited the flame and has made me

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even more hungry for the Olympics.

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I think I'm quite naturally strong.

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I grew up on a farm in Devon,

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out lifting bales and doing manual work.

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Helen started weightlifting while she was at school,

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and stuck with it all the way through university.

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Weightlifting kind of fits my mindset.

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I'm able to push my body and, you know, it is an internal drive.

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You've got to really want it.

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In all, I think I've counted about 42.

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I can't believe you've kept all of them.

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HELEN LAUGHS

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Oh, God!

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They're all ancient!

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There's not much use you bringing them all out.

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They all look the same.

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-Dad, stop! Don't be stupid.

-That's enough now.

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He's getting more, isn't he?

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HELEN LAUGHS

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Oh, my God!

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She's determined that she's going to do it.

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Helen's one that if she can, she will.

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MUSIC: "Respect" by Aretha Franklin

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To improve their chances of selection,

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the girls are following a strict training regime.

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Twice a day, six days a week

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at The British Weightlifting Centre in Leeds.

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All under the watchful eye of head coach Tamas Feher.

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The strength is absolutely important, and the speed.

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The other part is here, up there.

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It's not just going to the gym.

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It's a quite complex plan.

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Every day, every training counts.

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There are only two spots on the women's Olympic weightlifting team,

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and there are six girls in the running.

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To qualify, the girls have to lift a target weight

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in one of two upcoming competitions.

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We're all competing against each other for the places at London.

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It could literally be anyone at the moment.

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Now things are getting more serious.

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I'm one of the people who wants one of those places.

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You know, the pressure's building.

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I think secretly we're all kind of watching each other.

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Helen, she's doing really well at the moment.

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Zoe's got a really good chance of going.

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At such a young age, to be lifting the weight she is, it's phenomenal.

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Hannah's looking really strong.

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I'd be happy for any of us to go, but obviously I'd be more happy

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if I got to go, cos I want to go to the Olympics.

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More punch, come on. Quick! Yep.

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Before their Olympic qualifying competitions,

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the girls have their first big test - the World Championships in Paris.

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Come on, Hannah.

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I've thought a little bit about what it would be like to compete

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at the Olympics, but I've got nothing at the moment I could compare it to.

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Aggressive!

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Don't rush. Hold on. Come on!

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I'm being sent to the Worlds

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because I need to have an understanding of what it's like

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to compete on a platform at that level.

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A bit rushed, but it's fine.

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With nine months to the Olympics, Helen has suffered a serious setback

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and will miss the chance to prove herself at the World Championships.

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-Have you been here before?

-No, just to see Dr Potter last week.

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-Just the initial consultation?

-Yeah.

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Helen suffered an injury in training and needs surgery on her shoulder.

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I've torn one of the muscles in my shoulder.

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It's not actually attached, apparently.

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Everything just happened so quickly.

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I had the scans and then the doctor told me the report.

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I was just like, "No!"

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It's not ideal, to say the least.

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I'm trying to keep smiling.

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After the operation, Helen will have to embark on an intensive course

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of physical rehab before she can even think about

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lifting weights again.

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'I suppose with me having the injury, it might make the other girls

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'feel like, "Wow, I've got a really good chance here.

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'"My chances have just improved."

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'But I'm not going to give up easily.'

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But Helen's doctor isn't so optimistic.

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What she's doing even with a healthy shoulder is difficult enough,

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but to do the same after major shoulder surgery

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is going to be a tall order for Helen.

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BEEPING

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With Helen out of the picture,

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Zoe and Hannah have a better chance to shine

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at the World Championships in Paris.

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It'll be the biggest competition I'll have ever done in my life.

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-It will be for any of us, I think.

-Yeah.

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I'm quite excited.

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We usually cook separate stuff now, cos we're on diets,

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but we're being lazy tonight.

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Just cooking one thing.

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Zoe is still battling to lose weight,

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so she'll be competing in the 63kg category.

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That's enough for me.

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While Zoe's attempting to shed pounds,

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Hannah's desperate to do the opposite.

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The biggest challenge I face for me personally is putting on body weight.

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I think I've put enough butter on it.

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At just six stone and 12 pounds,

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she is one of the smallest girls in the lightest weight class.

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'I know if I was five kilos heavier, I'd be so much stronger.'

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I really, desperately need to go up to 48.

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'If I didn't lift, my body would happily sit around 40 kilos.'

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So to force my body to weigh 48 kilos is very difficult.

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Eight kilos is over a stone.

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I'll eat another.

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Probably just the same sized meal before I go to bed later.

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Imagine if you hit 48 kilos and didn't stop.

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-Yeah.

-Just kept going.

-You just ballooned!

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LAUGHTER

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We're in Paris!

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The World Championships is the closest the girls will get

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to Olympic-style competition before 2012.

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For Zoe and Hannah, it's their first time competing

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at such a high level alongside the best lifters in the world.

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If they're going to make the Olympic team,

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they need to show they can perform under pressure.

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It's huge.

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I mean, there's over 700 athletes and there's lifters here

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I've watched on YouTube for the last few years and stuff

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that are really good.

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It's kind of like seeing celebrities for me, walking around.

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I'm starting to get a little bit nervous.

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Every now and then, I start to get butterflies

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and stuff thinking about competing.

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But good butterflies.

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I'm quite confident ahead of it.

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I just thought about it and it's just another competition, really.

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I shouldn't get too worried about it, even though it's a World Champs.

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TANNOY: Smith, Zoe. Great Britain.

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Zoe's chance to prove she's capable

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of handling Olympic-style competition is about to begin.

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Her mum has come to Paris to give her a boost.

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Come on, Zoe.

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Team coach Tamas is in charge of Zoe's tactics,

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getting her psyched up and ready to compete.

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OK. 45, please.

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The warm-up for the competition is quite tense.

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You've got people staring you down.

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You know when you see animals

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puffing their chests out and stuff?

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It's kind of a human version of that, really.

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You need to be really psyched up.

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You just feel nervous, especially for your first attempt.

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You've got butterflies like mad,

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It's just a mad feeling in your stomach.

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You're the next one.

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Be angry, mad and calm at the same time.

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Mad and calm.

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Very focused.

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Come on, Zoe.

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It's yours. Come on!

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Zoe's first attempt is a lift of 85 kilos.

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That's over 13 stone.

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APPLAUSE

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Very well.

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From here on, the weights get heavier and heavier.

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Maximum focus. Second go, OK?

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APPLAUSE

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This is the key. It's yours, come on.

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CHEERING

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APPLAUSE

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On her final lift,

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Zoe's trying to lift more than she's ever achieved in competition.

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CHEERING

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-Good work.

-Thank you so much.

-Congratulations.

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And it's over!

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It's a personal best for Zoe - a lift of 112kg.

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That's well over 17 and a half stone.

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I've been worrying about this for weeks really.

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To have it out of the way and done well, it's like...

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I couldn't have asked for more of myself.

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-Darling!

-Mumski!

-So, so proud of you.

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-Do you want your treat?

-I do.

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Before the competition, you just feel so sick and like, "Why have I come?

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"Do I really want to be here?"

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But once you have a great result like that,

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you realise it's all worthwhile.

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Yeah, she knows me too well.

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Not all of the three hopefuls are experiencing

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the bright lights of international competition.

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I'm back home in Devon,

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at my parent's house.

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Everyone else is in Paris, which is where I should have been.

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I'm gutted that I can't be there.

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'I've been watching the weightlifting on TV,

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'the others competing out there and keeping up with their results.

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'I'm just really jealous.'

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I'm meant to be a weightlifter, lifting weights.

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At the moment, I can't even lift an empty bar

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and I'm struggling with the weakest coloured theraband.

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Struggling to even get my arms

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over my head with it.

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It's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster,

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playing with your mind.

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'Is my shoulder ever going to be right?

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'Will I ever be able to lift again?'

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It is going to be a big ask to qualify for London.

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'It's devastating, but I am very dedicated

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'and I'm not going to give up that easily.'

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Nothing's impossible.

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There's always some hope.

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It's Hannah's turn to find out

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if she can take the pressure at the World Championships.

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One more.

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It's just a fine line between getting a lift and failing it.

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'All that training and hard work,

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'in literally a few seconds at a time.'

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There are two kinds of lift in competition.

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The first is called the snatch,

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where the weight is lifted in one movement.

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Yeah. Very good..

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Hannah has three attempts at the snatch to lift as much as she can.

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Be like a beast on the stage.

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APPLAUSE

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Hah!

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Lift up.

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Go!

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APPLAUSE

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OK, six is fine.

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Hannah's equalled her personal best in the snatch.

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Now she's got three attempts at a different of lift -

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the clean and jerk.

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It has two movements, and heavier weights.

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Explosive, Hannah. Rise high.

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Come on!

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Hannah's attempting 79 kilos.

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That's 12 stone and six pounds.

0:20:110:20:13

Come on. Heels.

0:20:130:20:16

Ohhh!

0:20:180:20:20

Unlucky.

0:20:200:20:22

-It was lazy. Be very aggressive.

-Agh!

0:20:240:20:27

Come on. Come on, Hannah.

0:20:270:20:29

Hannah must get her final lift to avoid being disqualified.

0:20:340:20:38

Calm down.

0:20:380:20:39

She's got just two minutes to compose herself.

0:20:390:20:43

Take some deep breaths.

0:20:430:20:45

Calm down.

0:20:450:20:46

This weight is a piece of cake.

0:20:460:20:49

No. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Calm down.

0:20:490:20:52

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT/APPLAUSE

0:20:570:20:59

Don't rush!

0:21:020:21:04

Heels.

0:21:110:21:13

Oh, I don't believe this.

0:21:240:21:26

SHE SOBS

0:21:260:21:28

Come on.

0:21:350:21:37

It happens. Learn from it, OK?

0:21:460:21:49

Come on.

0:21:510:21:52

Hannah's got six months to turn things around

0:21:550:21:57

if she's to qualify for the Olympics.

0:21:570:22:00

I'm sad butt this is the way to learn. It's a hard way.

0:22:000:22:04

SHE SOBS

0:22:040:22:06

It's better to do it here instead of London.

0:22:060:22:10

It's the World Championships and I bombed out, so....

0:22:100:22:14

It's just, just, like, utter disappointment,

0:22:160:22:19

like I've let myself down.

0:22:190:22:22

SHE SIGHS

0:22:220:22:23

I've lifted that weight hundreds and hundreds of times,

0:22:230:22:26

in training and in competition.

0:22:260:22:28

It's not that I don't think my body's capable of it,

0:22:280:22:31

I think it's my head, like, my confidence.

0:22:310:22:33

If anything's going to let me down, it'll be that.

0:22:330:22:36

After her result at the World Championships,

0:22:400:22:43

Zoe's back in London, visiting her old school.

0:22:430:22:46

SHE WHISPERS

0:22:480:22:49

That's my old locker.

0:22:490:22:51

That was my locker.

0:22:510:22:53

She's been invited to speak to students about

0:22:530:22:55

her new life as a full-time athlete.

0:22:550:22:58

It's hard to think what I'd be doing now if I hadn't become a weightlifter.

0:22:580:23:01

In fact, I'd probably still be here in uniform, actually.

0:23:010:23:04

I'm glad I found it. It's changed my life for the better, I think.

0:23:040:23:07

It's been nine months since Zoe decided to give up her A-levels

0:23:070:23:11

and concentrate on training.

0:23:110:23:13

It's a bit strange, really.

0:23:130:23:15

I used to walk down this corridor every day.

0:23:150:23:19

I do have some good memories of here.

0:23:190:23:20

Also bad memories of here, like spending my lunch in there.

0:23:200:23:23

Because of the time I had off for competitions and stuff,

0:23:230:23:26

I was always quite behind with work.

0:23:260:23:28

It's pretty miserable.

0:23:280:23:30

I think I've made a good decision, dropping out while I was ahead.

0:23:300:23:34

I think I miss the people more than I miss the actual school.

0:23:340:23:38

Soph.

0:23:380:23:39

SOPH GASPS/ZOE LAUGHS

0:23:390:23:41

Hello. How are you, my dear?

0:23:410:23:44

Oh, my God!

0:23:440:23:45

-Have you had any offers from unis yet?

-I've not sent it off.

0:23:450:23:48

-Have you not?

-Well, no. It's getting sent off today.

0:23:480:23:50

That's my personal statement and it's so shit,

0:23:500:23:53

but it's apparently good.

0:23:530:23:55

-But I think it's shit.

-It looks good.

0:23:550:23:57

You haven't changed!

0:23:570:23:59

No, I haven't!

0:23:590:24:01

It's weird how much my life has changed, compared to theirs,

0:24:010:24:05

cos they were all busy with UCAS and personal statements and stuff.

0:24:050:24:10

And...

0:24:100:24:11

the kind of problems in my life are completely different to theirs now.

0:24:110:24:16

It surprised me how hard it is to live away from home at this age.

0:24:160:24:20

I didn't even think about it that much when I decided I was going to do it.

0:24:200:24:23

I was like, "Yeah, yeah. It'll be fine. I'll just go home every now and then,

0:24:230:24:27

"and I'll get to live with Hannah and it'll all be great,"

0:24:270:24:30

but, erm, yeah, the reality of it

0:24:300:24:31

isn't the same as what I thought it would be, basically.

0:24:310:24:35

It's a lot harder.

0:24:350:24:36

-Do you need a tissue or anything?

-No.

-No? OK.

0:24:360:24:41

A lot of people think that now Zoe's in Leeds,

0:24:410:24:45

at her sort of special training camp,

0:24:450:24:47

they have this idea that she has people who prepare her meals,

0:24:470:24:51

you know, and take all those kind of problems away from her.

0:24:510:24:55

But they've not actually put anything in place to physically help her.

0:24:550:24:59

I mean, I'm hoping that she's going to be able to stick with it

0:24:590:25:03

and they're going to support her to stick with it.

0:25:030:25:05

So if she's staying in Leeds, I'm really hoping that you're

0:25:050:25:08

going to be knuckling down to the really hard training.

0:25:080:25:12

You say that like I'm the worst person in the world.

0:25:120:25:15

No, I don't mean that but, I mean, you say yourself you're not lazy-lazy

0:25:150:25:19

but training - I think you've always found training an effort.

0:25:190:25:23

She was only saying this morning about another athlete,

0:25:230:25:27

"Oh, you know, they're just so driven,"

0:25:270:25:29

and I said, "Wouldn't you like to be like that?"

0:25:290:25:32

I mean, so far, Zoe's managed to achieve what she's achieves

0:25:320:25:36

just taking it quite casually, in her own way.

0:25:360:25:38

Just chuck it in.

0:25:380:25:40

So I would like to think that she could step up to another level but obviously without...

0:25:400:25:45

Leave it darling, I'll do it.

0:25:450:25:46

..without hurting herself.

0:25:460:25:48

But then I suppose that's just me being her mum,

0:25:480:25:50

whereas the coaches would think, "Oh, a bit of pain - no pain, no gain."

0:25:500:25:54

THEY CHUCKLE

0:25:540:25:56

Back in Leeds, Helen isn't giving up on her hopes of competing at the Olympics.

0:26:020:26:06

My shoulder's really good.

0:26:060:26:08

I'm not really getting any pain or discomfort with it when I'm lifting,

0:26:080:26:12

so I'm just building back up.

0:26:120:26:14

She's returned to full-time training after three months' intensive rehab.

0:26:140:26:19

# My system's in mint condition

0:26:190:26:21

# The power's up on my transistors

0:26:210:26:24

# Working fine, no glitches

0:26:240:26:26

# Plug me in and flip some switches

0:26:260:26:28

# Pull up in dragging position Pop the hatch and hit ignition

0:26:280:26:31

# B-B-Burn up, baby

0:26:310:26:33

# Ready for demolition. #

0:26:330:26:36

Maybe the operation was just a blessing in disguise, you know.

0:26:360:26:39

It's given my body a chance to rest and now I can come back stronger.

0:26:390:26:43

Helen is usually the first in the door

0:26:430:26:46

and is probably the last out fairly consistently.

0:26:460:26:51

She's incredibly disciplined,

0:26:510:26:52

she's enthusiastic about her training, well motivated.

0:26:520:26:56

Her week's planned out in detail, big lists of to-do's.

0:26:560:26:59

Several times, we've said, "Hel, just take a backward step.

0:26:590:27:03

"Go home, go to bed, sleep."

0:27:030:27:04

I'm just building back up and hopeful that, you know,

0:27:040:27:07

things will just keep improving and I can get back on the platform.

0:27:070:27:11

After the disappointment of the World Championships,

0:27:140:27:18

Hannah is also throwing herself into training.

0:27:180:27:20

Don't rush it.

0:27:200:27:21

But the intense schedule is proving physically punishing.

0:27:230:27:27

This week has been really difficult.

0:27:290:27:31

I've struggled quite a lot.

0:27:310:27:34

This ripped first, doing pulls,

0:27:360:27:38

and that was quite deep and was just hanging off.

0:27:380:27:41

And then this one went about five minutes after.

0:27:410:27:44

On Monday morning, I was struggling,

0:27:460:27:49

so by the time I got to Wednesday afternoon, six sessions later,

0:27:490:27:53

I was absolutely knackered.

0:27:530:27:56

My body just couldn't take it any more.

0:27:560:28:00

My shoulder and my neck had all flared up

0:28:000:28:02

and it was starting to hurt down my arm again.

0:28:020:28:05

I'm pushing my body more now than it's ever been pushed before,

0:28:050:28:09

so the pain and the tiredness and everything's just a consequence of that.

0:28:090:28:14

And it's just something that's part of the training now,

0:28:140:28:18

so I'll just have to man up and deal with it.

0:28:180:28:21

But Hannah's found support in a fellow athlete.

0:28:230:28:25

Hannah Powell, how are you feeling?

0:28:250:28:28

Well, let me just tell you.

0:28:280:28:31

It is 28 minutes past three on a Saturday night and I was asleep,

0:28:310:28:36

until drunken Gaz...

0:28:360:28:38

-Showamma!

-..burst through the door.

0:28:380:28:41

Little bit of food. Just clean them.

0:28:410:28:43

I do have a boyfriend at the moment, and that's Gaz,

0:28:450:28:48

and he is another weightlifter.

0:28:480:28:51

SHE GIGGLES

0:28:510:28:53

'Gaz is, like, a happy-go-lucky kind of person.'

0:28:550:28:59

It's nice to be with someone that's kind of in the same situation as me,

0:28:590:29:04

cos I think most normal people would find it difficult to understand

0:29:040:29:09

the kind of life that I live at the moment as a full-time athlete.

0:29:090:29:12

Guys are like, "Are you joking?"

0:29:120:29:15

They can normally tell that you do some kind of sport

0:29:150:29:18

by your appearance and your physical attributes.

0:29:180:29:21

And then they ask you what you do and it's like, "Oh, God!

0:29:210:29:25

"Do I tell them? Do I not?"

0:29:250:29:28

They usually say, like, "You look too feminine to be a weightlifter,"

0:29:280:29:31

obviously cos their idea of a weightlifter is not feminine.

0:29:310:29:35

Guys that aren't really confident in themselves

0:29:350:29:38

could be intimidated by the fact that I'm a weightlifter and stuff,

0:29:380:29:42

but...anyone that I'd want to associate myself with wouldn't really care.

0:29:420:29:47

I feel a bit like a film star.

0:29:560:29:58

Wish I looked like one!

0:29:580:29:59

-I'm counting on you.

-No pressure!

0:30:010:30:04

Zoe's in London, juggling an increasingly busy schedule

0:30:060:30:09

of media engagements, alongside her training.

0:30:090:30:12

Standby.

0:30:160:30:18

Action, Zoe.

0:30:180:30:19

She's got an agent and has been spending less and less time

0:30:190:30:23

at the weightlifting centre in Leeds.

0:30:230:30:26

Just eyeballing, OK. Just before competition.

0:30:290:30:32

Nice Zoe's gone.

0:30:320:30:34

Bad Zoe's arriving.

0:30:350:30:38

I couldn't stop giggling cos you know, like...

0:30:440:30:46

Have you seen the video for LMFAO's I'm Sexy And I Know It?

0:30:460:30:50

There's this bit where he's, like, working out

0:30:500:30:53

using this tiny little dumbbell thing and I felt like that guy.

0:30:530:30:56

It's coming in big chunks now of media stuff.

0:30:580:31:01

It's quite nice to have another side of it, though, cos I suppose

0:31:010:31:04

just training all the time could get a bit boring,

0:31:040:31:06

but this kind of mixes it up a bit.

0:31:060:31:08

Tamas and people are just concerned that

0:31:080:31:11

if I do all this kind of media stuff,

0:31:110:31:13

my training's going to go out the window, which I do understand but,

0:31:130:31:16

at the same time, I think doing the press is important because,

0:31:160:31:19

(1) I enjoy it, and it's nice to have a bit of attention, isn't it?

0:31:190:31:22

And (2) Say, by some miracle, I was to win gold medals all round,

0:31:220:31:27

you could end up getting sponsorship deals left, right and centre,

0:31:270:31:31

and you could just be made for life, really.

0:31:310:31:33

You've kind of got to focus on all aspects.

0:31:330:31:36

I'm getting smile lines now as well, I think.

0:31:360:31:39

With her training back on track,

0:31:490:31:52

Helen is dedicated to the pursuit of an Olympic place.

0:31:520:31:56

Like Zoe, she's decided to come down a weight category.

0:31:560:31:59

40 grams of muesli.

0:31:590:32:02

Perfection.

0:32:020:32:03

SHE LAUGHS

0:32:030:32:05

So, yeah, it's just about being very pernickety.

0:32:050:32:09

I'm pretty good at guessing nuts right.

0:32:110:32:14

I reckon this is about 20 grams.

0:32:140:32:16

-Oh, exactly! How good is that?

-SHE LAUGHS

0:32:180:32:22

As well as a strict diet, she's burning extra calories by taking power walks each morning,

0:32:230:32:28

before hitting the gym for up to six hours.

0:32:280:32:31

It's hard work.

0:32:310:32:32

I mean, because, obviously, I don't carry that much

0:32:320:32:36

body fat as well, to drop a couple of kilos...

0:32:360:32:39

It's just one of those things. It's part and parcel of the sport.

0:32:390:32:42

Good job that I can be self-disciplined and stop myself,

0:32:420:32:45

SHE LAUGHS

0:32:450:32:47

do whatever it takes to make it.

0:32:470:32:49

-Could I have a latte, please, and is that a coffee muffin?

-Yep.

0:32:540:33:00

-Could I have one of those as well, please?

-Yeah, sure.

0:33:000:33:02

Thank you.

0:33:020:33:03

Hannah's still desperately trying to put on weight

0:33:030:33:06

to make herself stronger, but she's got a new strategy.

0:33:060:33:10

Seeing as my nutritionist said,

0:33:100:33:12

"Basically, if you need to get extra calories in a day,

0:33:120:33:16

"I don't mind you having a chocolate bar or a cake to do so.

0:33:160:33:20

"So help yourself, really."

0:33:200:33:22

I was like, "Yes!"

0:33:220:33:24

Cos before, I was still trying to be kind of healthy.

0:33:240:33:27

It seems to be working.

0:33:270:33:28

Zoe and Helen are both trying to keep their weight down.

0:33:280:33:31

It's amazing, like, how easily I lose weight,

0:33:310:33:35

but how hard it is to put it on,

0:33:350:33:36

and everyone else seems to have the opposite problem.

0:33:360:33:40

Things have changed for Zoe.

0:33:430:33:44

Living away from home at such a young age,

0:33:440:33:47

and trying to balance her media commitments with training, has become difficult.

0:33:470:33:51

So the sport's governing body have found a solution.

0:33:510:33:55

She's moved back to London for good

0:33:550:33:57

and is training at her old gym with local coach Andy Callard.

0:33:570:34:00

If I'm honest, I kind of like the atmosphere down here a bit more.

0:34:010:34:05

Yeah, training's actually going really well.

0:34:050:34:08

After the intense regime in Leeds,

0:34:080:34:10

Andy has a new approach to training Zoe.

0:34:100:34:12

Well, she was training twice a day, I think,

0:34:120:34:15

six days a week at Leeds, plus the commitments with the dieticians,

0:34:150:34:20

the physios and the other sort of sports science which goes along with it.

0:34:200:34:24

Here, we've tried to sort of cut most of that stuff out, basically.

0:34:240:34:29

What we're doing here is keeping the time in the gym to a minimum.

0:34:290:34:32

She's in the gym for maybe an hour and a half, two hours maximum,

0:34:320:34:36

five, six days a week.

0:34:360:34:37

I thought it was a bad decision for her to give up her A-levels

0:34:370:34:41

and to train full-time.

0:34:410:34:42

You know, I think that was, is madness.

0:34:420:34:44

Big effort now, Zoe. It's a bit heavier now.

0:34:440:34:47

Come on, you've got to put some effort into it.

0:34:470:34:49

'I think she needs to go to the gym, lift weights, train hard,

0:34:490:34:52

'go home, go shopping, go to the cinema, do normal things, relax,'

0:34:520:34:57

so we're going for the quality rather than the quantity-type attitude towards training.

0:34:570:35:02

Dip and punch. Push! Ah, that's much better. That was good.

0:35:020:35:06

ZOE CHUCKLES

0:35:060:35:08

I'm so tired now. My legs feel like death.

0:35:080:35:10

I'm feeling quite strong, though, which is good.

0:35:100:35:13

I'm hoping that this formula will work.

0:35:130:35:15

We'll see soon.

0:35:170:35:18

The girls are about to get their first shot at Olympic qualification.

0:35:240:35:28

The European Championships is one of two competitions

0:35:340:35:37

where they have a chance of achieving the Olympic standard.

0:35:370:35:40

I need to do 150 total at the Europeans, nothing less.

0:35:400:35:46

I'm more determined than I've ever been.

0:35:460:35:49

There's no room for mistakes now.

0:35:500:35:52

There's no room for wasted lifts, no wasted attempts,

0:35:520:35:55

no, "Oh, I've missed that.

0:35:550:35:56

"Never mind, I'll get it next time or next competition."

0:35:560:35:59

I don't want to look back in a year's time or in six months' time

0:35:590:36:03

and think, "Oh, I could have done more to get there."

0:36:030:36:06

It's the day before Zoe

0:36:080:36:09

flies to Turkey for the European Championships.

0:36:090:36:12

I really want bacon.

0:36:120:36:13

Have we got any bacon?

0:36:150:36:16

Can I eat tonight?

0:36:160:36:18

I would advise you not to.

0:36:200:36:21

Zoe's still nearly three kilos over the limit

0:36:210:36:25

for the new weight class she is now committed to.

0:36:250:36:28

With Olympic qualification at stake,

0:36:280:36:31

the team nutritionist has sent Zoe strict instructions.

0:36:310:36:34

Mmm(!)

0:36:340:36:35

"Today and tomorrow, I want you to drink five litres of water.

0:36:350:36:38

"You'll be going to the toilet a lot,

0:36:380:36:40

"but then the day before you compete,

0:36:400:36:42

"the hormones that hold onto the water are so low

0:36:420:36:44

"that when you stop drinking at 1pm,

0:36:440:36:46

"you'll keep going to the toilet and wake up the next morning

0:36:460:36:50

"a couple of kilos lighter than you were at 1pm the day before."

0:36:500:36:53

This is the stressful part.

0:36:540:36:56

She's just so frightened, you know, especially this time round,

0:36:560:37:00

that she's not actually going to get the chance to compete,

0:37:000:37:03

if the weight's not right.

0:37:030:37:04

And it sounds sort of dramatic but, really and truly,

0:37:060:37:09

not making the weight would be the most serious, almost, offence that she could do.

0:37:090:37:13

It's the one thing that's supposed to be under her control.

0:37:130:37:17

So if she were to fail,

0:37:170:37:18

I mean, you could say it might be the end of the Olympics for her.

0:37:180:37:22

So it is, really, as much pressure as that.

0:37:220:37:24

300mls to go.

0:37:240:37:26

Zoe's been turning the cupboards inside out looking.

0:37:260:37:30

"You must have something that I can't eat," you know.

0:37:300:37:33

But I've been trying to keep it to the bare minimum,

0:37:330:37:35

but when there's the rest of the family...

0:37:350:37:37

You know, we don't all want to eat the same sorts of things as Zoe.

0:37:370:37:40

Like today, I don't want to be drinking gallons of water.

0:37:400:37:43

I'm not asking you to.

0:37:430:37:44

I'm not asking you to drink gallons of water.

0:37:440:37:46

I'm just asking you not to bring McDonald's into the house

0:37:460:37:49

for one daughter, while the other one sits there, literally starving.

0:37:490:37:52

'I feel bad sometimes.'

0:37:520:37:54

Like, if I come home with something and then she'll just be like,

0:37:540:37:58

"Oh! Eat them in front of me, why don't you?"

0:37:580:38:00

I cook all the best foods, your steak, your asparagus,

0:38:000:38:03

all the best stuff, and she hates it.

0:38:030:38:06

She'd rather have...

0:38:060:38:08

What normal person wouldn't hate it?

0:38:080:38:11

Oh, dear!

0:38:110:38:12

It's not even got any nice sort of dressing on it.

0:38:120:38:15

It's literally just salmon and asparagus.

0:38:150:38:18

How is that a meal?

0:38:180:38:20

Where are the carbs?

0:38:200:38:22

Woah!

0:38:310:38:33

She held that better than all you guys!

0:38:330:38:36

The European Championships are taking place

0:38:370:38:39

at the Turkish holiday resort of Antalya.

0:38:390:38:43

All the weightlifters and team members are staying at a luxury spa hotel.

0:38:430:38:48

The first of two Olympic qualifying competitions,

0:38:520:38:55

all of the girls hard work in training has been leading up to this.

0:38:550:38:59

But Zoe's still overweight for her category.

0:39:010:39:03

I've not got any boobs left any more.

0:39:060:39:08

-Do you remember when mine completely disappeared?

-Mm.

0:39:080:39:12

If I'm going to be over, like overweight,

0:39:120:39:14

you would think I would at least get a pair of boobs with that

0:39:140:39:17

but...apparently not.

0:39:170:39:19

Well, that's what I'm hoping, that I'll put on weight

0:39:190:39:22

and it'll just go there and everyone else will be all right.

0:39:220:39:26

It must be nice to be under, Hannah.

0:39:260:39:29

LAUGHTER It is, actually.

0:39:290:39:31

You will never understand what we go through! Never!

0:39:310:39:35

The things we sacrifice for our sport. And there's you, eating.

0:39:350:39:39

I have to.

0:39:400:39:41

Have you seen these little creations?

0:39:440:39:47

I love looking at things I can't eat.

0:39:480:39:51

Zoe has only 72 hours left to lose two kilos.

0:39:510:39:55

If she doesn't, she won't be able to compete

0:39:550:39:57

and will lose this chance to qualify for the Olympics.

0:39:570:40:00

But she's not alone.

0:40:000:40:02

It's a major part of the sport.

0:40:020:40:04

If you walk round the hotel at the moment,

0:40:040:40:06

you'll see a lot of people in and out of saunas, jumping on and off scales.

0:40:060:40:10

Almost, probably, 50% of the athletes here are on some sort of weight-loss strategy.

0:40:100:40:15

If you don't make weight, you don't compete.

0:40:150:40:18

The team nutritionist has given Zoe instructions for her diet plan,

0:40:180:40:22

but Zoe's having trouble working out what's acceptable.

0:40:220:40:25

Do you want some of them, Zo?

0:40:250:40:27

SHE GROANS

0:40:270:40:29

I can't be bothered with this.

0:40:290:40:31

HE CACKLES

0:40:310:40:33

Boiled chicken?

0:40:330:40:35

Great(!)

0:40:350:40:36

Oh, God, it's still in the water.

0:40:360:40:38

Oh, God, I'm going to vomit.

0:40:380:40:41

Who would boil chicken?

0:40:460:40:48

Why would anyone ever think boiling chicken was a good idea?

0:40:480:40:52

It tastes...

0:40:520:40:54

It doesn't actually taste of anything.

0:40:540:40:57

Hannah is in the lowest body weight category of 48 kilos,

0:40:580:41:01

which means she'll be the first one to compete.

0:41:010:41:05

But she's injured her ankle in training.

0:41:050:41:08

I've just been icing it and taking ibuprofen.

0:41:080:41:10

It'll be all right.

0:41:100:41:12

I'm still lifting.

0:41:120:41:14

I'm excited to see what I'll lift tomorrow.

0:41:160:41:19

Apart from my ankle,

0:41:190:41:21

my training's gone brilliantly up to this competition.

0:41:210:41:25

I feel like it's going to go well.

0:41:250:41:27

The team doctor has decided to give Hannah an injection

0:41:330:41:36

to block the pain in her ankle.

0:41:360:41:38

This will be her first major international

0:41:400:41:43

since the disaster in Paris.

0:41:430:41:44

It was, like, my biggest fear

0:41:440:41:47

to ever bomb out because there's nothing worse.

0:41:470:41:50

Big pull, then punch.

0:42:020:42:04

Come on!

0:42:040:42:05

Good. Hold it!

0:42:070:42:08

I don't believe this! It was done.

0:42:160:42:20

Come on. Big finish.

0:42:240:42:26

Hold it.

0:42:260:42:28

What is this? This weight is nothing.

0:42:340:42:36

Don't rush it. Come on!

0:42:390:42:41

-Big finish!

-Come on.

0:42:510:42:53

Hold it, hold it!

0:42:550:42:57

Hold it, hold it.

0:42:570:42:59

It looks like Hannah has come good with her final clean and jerk.

0:43:010:43:05

Well done, Hannah. That's a relief.

0:43:050:43:07

But then the judges disqualify the lift.

0:43:070:43:09

-No way!

-Don't do that.

0:43:090:43:10

-There was nothing wrong with her elbows at all.

-That was fine.

0:43:100:43:14

As a result, she's missed this chance to qualify.

0:43:140:43:18

I'm frustrated and I'm annoyed.

0:43:250:43:27

And just upset.

0:43:290:43:30

I don't want it to, like, carry on and be known as someone

0:43:320:43:35

that bombs and, in the end, people forget who you are.

0:43:350:43:38

Then all the training you do,

0:43:380:43:40

it doesn't matter how strong you are, if you bomb every time, It doesn't count.

0:43:400:43:43

My ankle was hurting my cleans.

0:43:430:43:46

My elbow was hurting in the jerks.

0:43:460:43:48

My body's just hurting so much.

0:43:500:43:54

It's really just starting to give up.

0:43:540:43:57

See you in a couple of days.

0:43:570:44:00

Hannah is heading home.

0:44:000:44:02

She's only got one chance left to qualify,

0:44:020:44:04

if she can make the grade at the next big competition.

0:44:040:44:07

I can't do this without you! Help me.

0:44:070:44:09

Helen and Zoe are about to have their chance.

0:44:090:44:13

And the nerves are starting to kick in.

0:44:130:44:15

I've been watching this on TV for, like,

0:44:150:44:18

the past six years or something and now I'm here,

0:44:180:44:21

but I feel like I should be at home with, like, I don't know,

0:44:210:44:26

some carbs maybe, and a coffee and my mum.

0:44:260:44:29

It's weird. I just feel like a little British kid.

0:44:290:44:32

It was going so well, the diet and stuff.

0:44:320:44:35

Then I've just put on some sort of phantom kilo.

0:44:350:44:38

I've not eaten anything really out of turn.

0:44:380:44:41

Literally, you have, like...

0:44:410:44:43

I think, at some point about a week ago, maybe more than that,

0:44:430:44:48

I had a roll from Subway.

0:44:480:44:50

How is a roll from Subway still here a week later.

0:44:520:44:56

No! That's not possible. I...

0:44:560:44:58

SHE SIGHS WITH FRUSTRATION

0:44:580:44:59

I really want to have a good competition.

0:45:020:45:05

Yeah, I don't know, there's just something in there that's like,

0:45:050:45:08

"Arrrgh!"

0:45:080:45:10

It just wants to come out.

0:45:100:45:12

I'm ready to go now.

0:45:120:45:13

I just want to get it out of the way, over and done with.

0:45:130:45:17

Helen and Zoe are supposed to be lifting in the same weight category.

0:45:170:45:20

But they both need to weigh under 58 kilos to be allowed to compete.

0:45:200:45:25

-Light breakfast!

-What are you?

0:45:250:45:28

57, zero, something.

0:45:280:45:30

Helen is on track.

0:45:300:45:32

But with six hours to go, Zoe is still over by a third of a kilogram.

0:45:320:45:38

Have an egg, little sip of water,

0:45:380:45:41

then away again at...

0:45:410:45:43

-11 o'clock.

-11-ish.

0:45:430:45:45

-Yeah?

-Mm-hmm.

0:45:450:45:47

See what you are and then decide whether

0:45:470:45:50

you need to do a sauna or not.

0:45:500:45:52

Helen is up first.

0:45:540:45:56

To reach the Olympic standard,

0:45:560:45:57

her two best lifts must add up to a combined total of 185 kilos.

0:45:570:46:02

That's just over 29 stone.

0:46:020:46:05

Perfect. Good.

0:46:060:46:08

Come on.

0:46:090:46:10

Easy, safe, big snatch.

0:46:100:46:12

Just snatch it.

0:46:120:46:14

Come on!

0:46:180:46:20

You look great! Come on.

0:46:200:46:22

You have to drive it. You have to drive it.

0:46:250:46:27

There was no pull, no height to your position.

0:46:310:46:33

Come on!

0:46:330:46:35

Helen's struggling with a weight she'd normally lift with ease.

0:46:350:46:38

I don't believe it.

0:46:430:46:44

Having failed all of her snatches,

0:46:460:46:48

it's impossible for Helen to qualify this time.

0:46:480:46:51

So, like Hannah,

0:46:510:46:52

she's going to be relying on the next competition to make it.

0:46:520:46:55

Absolutely gutted, really.

0:46:560:46:58

I'm just letting everyone down, myself as well.

0:46:580:47:00

It's just, like, I know I'm capable of so much more.

0:47:000:47:04

If I'm lifting like this, then I don't deserve to go to the Games.

0:47:040:47:07

I don't want to go there and make a fool of myself.

0:47:070:47:10

You know, I want to put in a good performance and...

0:47:100:47:12

-VOICE BREAKS

-..do everyone proud.

0:47:120:47:15

It's Zoe's turn to weigh in.

0:47:150:47:18

Unless she's below 58 kilos,

0:47:180:47:20

her competition and this chance at qualification will end here.

0:47:200:47:24

Zoe is 60 grams under. She's just made it.

0:47:260:47:29

All good, all good.

0:47:290:47:31

It's over! The nightmare has ended.

0:47:310:47:33

Now I just have to lift some weights.

0:47:330:47:36

Zoe can take her place with the other competitors.

0:47:370:47:40

But has the last-minute weight loss taken the strength out of her?

0:47:400:47:44

Oh, come on, Zoe.

0:47:460:47:47

Hips in. Come on.

0:47:470:47:49

Liven yourself up! Don't be lazy, Zoe.

0:47:530:47:56

You make me paranoid, Zoe.

0:47:560:47:58

Come on. It's important.

0:47:580:47:59

You've never done a more important competition.

0:47:590:48:03

Be confident, Zoe.

0:48:030:48:04

Be confident.

0:48:040:48:05

COMMENTATOR: European A medal final for Britain's Zoe Smith,

0:48:050:48:11

17 years of age,

0:48:110:48:12

has come down from 63 kilos where she performed at the World Championships.

0:48:120:48:16

Steady from the floor, Zoe.

0:48:160:48:17

Hips in.

0:48:190:48:20

She's opening up at 85.

0:48:200:48:22

Hips in!

0:48:220:48:23

Couple of steps forward. You sense a little nervousness there.

0:48:280:48:31

That was a little bit forward, wasn't it, yeah?

0:48:310:48:34

Steady from the floor, Zoe.

0:48:340:48:36

Hips in. Come on.

0:48:360:48:37

You've got to remember she's only 17. She's the youngest of the class.

0:48:370:48:41

That's good, that's a much better lift.

0:48:410:48:43

Well done, Zoe.

0:48:440:48:46

Zoe's on track.

0:48:460:48:48

If she gets her third snatch, it'll be a personal best of 92 kilos.

0:48:500:48:53

That's 14 and a half stone.

0:48:530:48:55

It's a big lift for you, Zoe. It's the biggest lift I've ever been involved with, that's for sure.

0:48:550:49:00

Yeah.

0:49:000:49:01

Hold it, hold it!

0:49:040:49:06

APPLAUSE

0:49:090:49:11

-You can compete against these now, yeah?

-YES!

-Well done.

0:49:110:49:14

Halfway there.

0:49:140:49:15

With a good result in the snatch, she now has to do well in the clean and jerk.

0:49:150:49:18

Dip and punch. On your heels, on your heels. Push.

0:49:180:49:21

She's one lift away from the Olympic qualification target.

0:49:210:49:25

Big one now, Zoe. Come on.

0:49:250:49:27

Don't rush. Don't rush. Take your time.

0:49:270:49:30

Big effort.

0:49:300:49:32

Opening up here on 110.

0:49:330:49:36

If she aspires to get a place in the London Olympic Games...

0:49:360:49:39

Hips down, Zoe. Come on.

0:49:430:49:45

Steady.

0:49:450:49:46

Elbows, elbows!

0:49:500:49:51

Keep pushing. Push.

0:49:540:49:55

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

0:49:570:49:59

AMERICAN COMMENTATOR: She owns this thing. Look at that!

0:49:590:50:02

There it is.

0:50:020:50:04

Zoe's reached the Olympic qualifying standard, but won't automatically be picked for the team.

0:50:040:50:08

That's out of the way. You've done your qualifying.

0:50:080:50:11

It's all about trying to keep up with these other girls.

0:50:110:50:14

You've only got to stay focused for another, what, 20 minutes?

0:50:140:50:17

Now, to give herself the best chance of selection,

0:50:170:50:19

she will attempt a new personal best - 116 kilos.

0:50:190:50:22

Don't rush it.

0:50:220:50:24

Twice her own body weight.

0:50:240:50:25

Show me how good you are, Zoe. Show me how good you are, yeah?

0:50:250:50:28

Come on, Zoe. Come on, Zoe. Come on!

0:50:280:50:31

This is a serious question.

0:50:340:50:36

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

0:50:360:50:38

Steady, come on. Steady.

0:50:390:50:40

Elbows, elbows, elbows!

0:50:420:50:44

Push!

0:50:470:50:49

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

0:50:520:50:53

MUSIC: "Titanium" by David Guetta

0:50:530:50:56

She's the champ!

0:50:590:51:00

Well done, darling.

0:51:020:51:03

Superb.

0:51:050:51:06

It's all about qualification but she got more than that, didn't she?

0:51:060:51:10

-I like how you were.

-Thank you.

0:51:120:51:14

I've blown the 'A' standard away!

0:51:180:51:20

My mum's really pleased.

0:51:250:51:26

I got hold of her a minute ago and the first thing she said,

0:51:260:51:29

"We're so proud of you, darling,"

0:51:290:51:31

so I'm really glad that everyone's so proud.

0:51:310:51:33

With London 2012 just a few months away,

0:51:360:51:39

there's a serious mood in the weightlifting camp,

0:51:390:51:41

as some tough decisions are about to be made.

0:51:410:51:43

That's the inside of the Olympic village.

0:51:430:51:46

It's really small, it's not far to go to the dining room,

0:51:460:51:49

not far to get to the transport and all those sort of things.

0:51:490:51:52

All the kit will be given out at the preparation camp.

0:51:520:51:55

But since returning from Turkey, Hannah's been plagued by injury.

0:51:550:51:58

She has come to terms with the reality of her situation.

0:51:580:52:01

Even if, miraculously, I could train perfect tomorrow,

0:52:010:52:06

I'm not going to make up for the last six weeks.

0:52:060:52:09

It was quite difficult to sit through the meetings today

0:52:090:52:13

about the Olympic village and the preparation and team selection stuff

0:52:130:52:16

cos I was just sitting there thinking,

0:52:160:52:19

"This doesn't involve me any more."

0:52:190:52:21

I've got no chance any more so... Yeah, it's frustrating.

0:52:210:52:26

I can't wait for this camp to be over, to be honest,

0:52:260:52:28

so I don't have to hear any more about it.

0:52:280:52:30

With Hannah ruling herself out,

0:52:300:52:32

there are now five girls left in the running for the two Olympic spots.

0:52:320:52:36

Following her performance in Turkey, Zoe's in a strong position,

0:52:360:52:40

but Helen is counting on one last chance at

0:52:400:52:43

the final qualifying event, the British Championships.

0:52:430:52:46

One spot and it's anyone's at the moment.

0:52:460:52:49

I've just got to work my butt off now

0:52:490:52:51

and really show them what I can do at the British.

0:52:510:52:54

If everything happens and clicks on that one day, that's all it takes.

0:52:540:52:59

The British Weightlifting Championships

0:53:030:53:06

are taking place in Derbyshire.

0:53:060:53:08

If Helen does well,

0:53:080:53:09

she can still achieve the Olympic qualification standard and get selected for the team.

0:53:090:53:14

I feel a lot more relaxed and happy in myself,

0:53:140:53:16

so hopefully that'll pay off and show in my lifting today.

0:53:160:53:21

I just hope that she does it all right

0:53:210:53:23

cos I don't like to see her upset.

0:53:230:53:25

There's a lot of pressure on her.

0:53:250:53:28

Nail it! Are you going to do it? Believe in yourself.

0:53:280:53:31

MOTHER: Come on, Helly!

0:53:310:53:33

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

0:53:370:53:39

Come on, Helly!

0:53:390:53:40

Helen's competition starts well,

0:53:420:53:44

putting her on track for Olympic qualification with her final lift.

0:53:440:53:50

-It's not far away.

-No.

0:53:500:53:51

Same as the snatch, get it on your third, get it done.

0:53:510:53:55

Helen's come back from major shoulder surgery to be a contender.

0:53:560:54:00

Deep breaths. Suck it in.

0:54:000:54:02

She's trained six days a week for two years.

0:54:020:54:05

Right, you've had a feel.

0:54:050:54:07

This is the one you've got to get.

0:54:070:54:09

Get 'em going. Let's see it!

0:54:100:54:12

This is her last chance.

0:54:120:54:14

BUZZER GOES

0:54:210:54:23

Aggressive!

0:54:270:54:28

Rotate!

0:54:290:54:31

Push! Up, up, up!

0:54:330:54:34

This time.

0:54:340:54:35

-NO!

-Oh, unlucky.

0:54:390:54:41

APPLAUSE

0:54:420:54:44

In first place, with a total of 170 kilograms, Helen Jewell.

0:54:450:54:49

Although Helen's come first in her weight class,

0:54:510:54:54

she's failed to reach the qualifying standard,

0:54:540:54:56

so she cannot be put forward for Olympic selection.

0:54:560:54:59

-INAUDIBLE

-Well, not quite but...

0:54:590:55:02

It's...

0:55:040:55:06

SHE SOBS

0:55:080:55:10

Gave everything to...to the sport.

0:55:210:55:25

SHE SNIFFS

0:55:310:55:33

I mean, obviously I'm gutted that I won't to be able to

0:55:330:55:36

go to the Games, and it's never going to come round again.

0:55:360:55:39

And I don't think, realistically, that I'll make the next one.

0:55:390:55:42

I don't think I'll still be lifting then.

0:55:420:55:46

But I'm... It's happened.

0:55:460:55:47

There's nothing I can do about it now.

0:55:470:55:50

Out of the three girls, Zoe's now the only one

0:55:510:55:54

who is eligible for Olympic selection.

0:55:540:55:56

Go to the Olympics!

0:55:560:55:57

Hips through it, hips through it.

0:55:580:56:01

For her, it's a waiting game to see if she's invited to join the team.

0:56:010:56:05

They've got to choose me, really.

0:56:050:56:06

I know that sounds a bit, like, big headed but no-one else has,

0:56:060:56:10

so I think that I can kind of say that I'm feeling pretty confident.

0:56:100:56:15

This May, Zoe got the news she'd been waiting for.

0:56:170:56:20

She became the youngest female weightlifter ever

0:56:200:56:22

to be selected for the Olympic team, and will now compete at London 2012.

0:56:220:56:27

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0:56:430:56:47

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