Information about Deborah Lovely's Athletics and Weightlifting  Coach
-  Brad Monk  -
I first meet Deborah in October 1996 and commenced coaching her in early 1997 as a 13 year old thrower (Discus & Shot - she was also very
keen to try Hammer). It has been my privilege to work with Deborah and help her develop into an elite thrower, who along the way has proved
to be a coaches dream athlete, that of being a hard working, self motivated, conscientious and a dedicated athlete.

I introduced Deborah to weight training at the start of 1999 to assist her strength levels for throwing and also introduced her to Olympic
Weightlifting competitions in June 1999. Deborah took to competitive Weightlifting like a duck to water, she represented Queensland at the
Australian Under 20 Championship before her 16th Birthay in only her second ever weightlifting competition. Where she won the Silver Medal
in the 75kg division.

Deborah continued to develop and impress as a Weightlifter, representing Australia at the Junior International level where she came third at the
Oceania Junior Championships as a 75+kg lifter and then made her Senior International debut after only another 6 competitions when she came
third at the East Asian Games.
My History in Athletics:
My involment in Athletics started as a schoolboy shot
putter, where I won a few state medals, which lead me on
to Hammer Throwing in my final year at school.

I then focused on Hammer and in 1983 won the
Australian Under 20 Championship and set the Australian
Under 20 record which stood till Sean Carlin broke it, a
record which he still holds today. (I also won the
Queensland Open Hammer Championship 11 times and
held the Queensland Record for 12 years)

I first gained my Level 1 coaching qualifications in 1986
on my return from the Australian Institute of Sport where I
trained under Peter Farmer (1976 & 1980 Olympic
Hammer representative).
My History in Weightlifting:
I was first introduced to weights training when I travelled to Sydney to
train with the New South Wales Throwers.

I then learnt a lot more about weight training from my coach, David Reid
and at the AIS under Peter Farmer, where I also attended a Level 1
Olympic Weightlifting Coaching course to help develop my understanding
of the techniques.

In 1999 I again attended a level 1 Olympic Weightlifting course to refresh
my Coaching Qualifications in Weightlifting.

From that point I have been working mainly with Deborah as she has
developed to the elite level, but also have had the opportunity of working
with a number of lifters as well as Track & Field athletes (including Cathy
Freeman in 1995 & 1996) at varing  levels to assist their lifting techniques
and/or strength levels for their sports.

While my proudest moments as a Weightlifting Coach were being able to
attend firstly the 2002 Commonwealth Games where I saw Deborah win
3 Silver Medals in the 75kg class. Then  the night of the 21st March 2006
when Deborah won Gold at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
(A night I will never forget.)
I didn't started coaching a squad till 1993, when I started
working with a number of athletes, firstly only in throws, then
moving onto Sprints and Hurdles coaching, and then Jumps,
which then lead into coaching Multi Events as well. In 1995 I
rejoined the Australian Track & Field Coaches Association,
when I resat the Level 1courses for Throws, Sprints and Jumps
and then attained my Level 2 qualifications for Throws in 1997.

My squads continued to develop throught the late 90's to a
point where in 1997 and 1998 I had 10 or more athletes
competing at the Australian All Schools Championships in
Throws, Hurdles, Jumps and Multi's.

But my proudest achievements as a coach was firstly when my
squad at the 1997 Queensland All Schools Championships won
the women's Discus events accross all the age groups, but this
was surpassed by my greatest coaching moment in athletics
when I was fortunite enough to be in Bydgoszcz Poland in 1999
for the World Youth Championships and watch one of my
athletes (Deborah) win a World Championship Medal (Bronze
in the Discus) and then watch her carry the Australian Flag in
the Closing Ceremony.
(A day I will never forget.)
Personal Statement
I don't know where  my journey will end up taking me, but I can say I
have enjoyed the opportunities it has presented me along the way.

Especially for the many athletes, their families, work mates and
employers, I have had the pleasure of working with, and the opportunity
to travel and meet many very interesting people. I will always cherish
and value their friendships.

The opportunity to meet and talk with fellow Christians all over the
world has always been very inspiring, as well as to hear how God has
worked in their lives, while also being able to share in their love and
worship of our Lord.

I know I have not always understood why I have been placed in many
different situations and I greatly regreted some  of the thing I have said
and done (Please accept my appoligies for those who feel I have
wronged them), but I trust and pray that through my life, I may be able
to serve my Lord in some small way.
Weightlifting
Athletics
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to view Brad's CV and coaching/sporting achievements