Bundaberg to host region's first sanctioned Olympic weightlifting series

United Barbell Club has secured a three-part sanctioned Olympic weightlifting competition series to be held at CrossFit United on Electra Street in Bundaberg, with the opening meet set for January 31, 2026. The series, the region's first sanctioned Olympic weightlifting competition circuit, will feature snatch and clean and jerk events and is designed to build local competitive experience in barbell sport.

Organisers have scheduled two additional meets for July 11 and October 31, 2026, creating a seasonal pathway for athletes to test progress and chase competition-specific PRs. The sanctioned status means lifts will be contested under recognised rules, giving local lifters exposure to formal meet procedures they may encounter at state and national levels.

United Barbell Club head coach Michael Murphy framed the series as a deliberate push to develop athletes and draw more young people into Olympic lifting. Bringing sanctioned competition to town removes a common regional barrier: travel. For CrossFit athletes who often train snatch and clean and jerk as part of WODs, the series offers a chance to translate gym work into meet-day performance, tighten technique under load, and gain judging and platform experience.

The meets will showcase local talent, with organisers highlighting athletes from the area who have previously competed at national championships. That experience provides a competitive spine for the field and gives less-experienced lifters a clear set of role models to emulate. Community members, beginners and established lifters are invited to get involved, whether as competitors, volunteers, or spectators; the events are pitched to be accessible to newcomers while still challenging seasoned barbell athletes.

For the CrossFit and broader strength community in Bundaberg, the series is a milestone. It represents a growing recognition of barbell sport as complementary to CrossFit programming and creates a tangible local pathway from gym training to sanctioned competition. Meet weekends can also boost the local scene by bringing coaches, referees and officials into contact with athletes who want to specialise or simply sharpen their competitive edge.

What comes next is predictable and practical: athletes will need to plan peaking cycles around the three dates, coaches can program more specific snatch and clean and jerk work, and families have local events to watch and support. If you lift, coach, or cheer in Bundaberg, this series offers a new platform to step onto, learn the meet process, and help expand strength sport across the region.