Lowesdale Primary School is bursting with pride and excitement as they prepare to watch, Olympian, Kyle Bruce, compete in his event at the Paris Olympics this week.
The renowned weightlifter, who earned a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, is set to represent Australia in the 89kg weightlifting category.
Kyle Bruce, whose meteoric rise in the weightlifting world has been nothing short of extraordinary, will be making his way to the Olympic Village shortly.
The school’s administration manager and the Olympian’s mother, Alison Bruce, expressed her immense pride in her son's achievements.
"I am extremely proud of Kyle’s accomplishments. He has worked incredibly hard to get here," Ms Bruce said.
"I am excited to see him compete, and I know I will be overwhelmed with emotion on the day he competes."
Having moved from Sydney to Yackandandah in 2021, Alison’s connection to Lowesdale Primary School began when she commenced her administration management position a few years ago.
Despite her son’s busy schedule, Alison said he has maintained a strong bond with the school, having visited earlier this year to inspire the students with his journey and talk about resilience and overcoming adversity.
Kyle, who has been training rigorously with three-hour sessions twice daily, has qualified as the Oceania representative with a ranking of 12. His goal is to break into the top 10 and potentially set a personal best.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Kyle’s performance was a standout. Though his final lift of 183kg was initially deemed a gold-winning effort, a subsequent challenge from the British team led to the silver medal being awarded after a video review determined his arms did not fully extend.
This year, Kyle further solidified his reputation with an impressive performance at the IWF World Cup 2024 in Phuket, Thailand, where he finished as the top weightlifter from Oceania.
His total lift of 336kg, including a 149kg snatch and a 187kg clean and jerk, was enough to secure his position as a top contender for the upcoming Olympics.
On June 3, Lowesdale Public School had the honour of hosting Kyle, where he captivated 10 students with tales from his weightlifting career.
The visit included a hands-on experience where students learned to perform a snatch and a clean and jerk, key elements of Kyle's Olympic competition.
Each student received a piece of Kyle’s memorabilia, which they will use to write about his journey and achievements.
Alison told The Free Press; “I am now in Rome for a few days before I make my way to Paris to support my son in person on August 9”.
"Kyle has always dreamed of competing in the Olympics. I know he would tell all the Lowesdale students that he is exceptionally proud to represent his country and will give his very best," Alison added.
As Kyle embarks on this momentous chapter, the Lowesdale community stands united in support, eagerly anticipating his performance and hoping for another inspirational visit after the Olympics.