Jeremy's remarkable achievement earlier this month prompted further investigation and we thank Jeremy Manteiga's Mum, Emma for providing us with this summary, video clips and photo to share here.

Jeremy started Olympic Weightlifting when he was 10 years old and competed in his first competition four days before his 11th Birthday. He snatched 14kg and a 21kg clean and jerk, totalling 35kg. Since then he has competed in three club competitions. 

Last year he competed in his first national competition the New Zealand Secondary Schools Weightlifting Championships where he won the U15 Mens Under 67 category. 

In June this year he competed in the South Island Weightlifting Championships. This competition did not have U15 categories, Jeremy competed in the Junior Mens Under 73kg Category and placed 2nd, and in the Senior Mens Under 73 Catergory where he placed 3rd. The competition did have a prize for overall best youth male which Jeremy won.

In September Jeremy travelled to Auckland to compete in the 2023 New Zealand Secondary Schools Weightlifting Championships, lifting in the Under 15 Mens Under 73 Category, Jeremy successfully lifted a 66kg snatch and 76kg clean and jerk, this gained him first place. He also won the overall best U15 male prize.

Jeremy trains two to three days a week at the Otago Weightlifting Gym under Coach Callan Helms. Callan coaches all levels of Olympic Weightlifters up to international levels. Overall his team competing in Auckland lifted really well with the Oosthuizen Sisters, Carmi and Miandi of Timaru also achieving great results. Carmi Oosthuizen won the Under 15 Women’s under 71kg Category, setting new Zealand records and winning the overall best Under 15 youth female prize. Miandi Oosthuizen won silver in the Over 15 Under 81kg category.

Next year Jeremy his hoping to break some U15 National records.

Videos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-0ZpxFgyDjmtw2ow7DRlEiuSHkSkE2D6