Academy’s ‘Strongest Athlete’ Set to Lift Regions Hopes

Written on the 28 May 2025 by Abby Wijesekera

From deep in the heart of South West Sydney, an ambitious young female is redefining strength. And not just in the amount of weight being lifted, but in the resolve to chase greatness.  

Indianna Wilson is an Olympic Weightlifter, and member of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport’s Wests Future Stars program, and with the support of the Academy, is building herself a future carved from discipline, sacrifice and an unwavering love for her sport. 

“Technically, I started when I was eleven,” she recalls. “I came through CrossFit, and the moment I learned the Olympic lifts that were apart of CrossFit, I knew that’s all I wanted to do and focus on.” 

Olympic Weightlifting is not a sport for the faint of heart. It demands precision, resilience and an inner fire that must burn through injury, self-doubt and the isolating nature of an individual sport. Not to be confused with powerlifting, the sport's goals lie within the title, as Wilson often reminds those who asked, this is the discipline where you get to compete for your nation on the world's biggest stage, the Olympic Games.  

And for Wilson, each snatch, clean and jerk, represents a step towards something larger. Not just the accolades that come with success, but the self-gratification of having attained a goal she once thought was impossible, the opportunity to compete at a home Olympic Games.  

Under the guidance of elite mentors, such as five-time Olympic Diver Melissa Wu and the support from her home club and training facility, along with the Academy, have built her into a force to be reckoned with on the lifting platform. “The strength and conditioning I get from the Academy is amazing,” said Wilson, reflecting on those ‘one percenters’ that sets Academy sport programs apart from an athletes ordinary training environment, Wilson adds, “More than that, I have learned how critical sleep, nutrition and mental preparation are. These are the things most athletes overlook.”  

Wilson is fast becoming a strong advocate and student of the importance of practicing to be a holistic athlete and utilising the resources around you to build a bank of knowledge to excel in all aspects of being an elite athlete, and to create a point of difference between competitors. 

This level of focus has led to Wilson reaching a milestone many athletes only dream of- representing Australia on the International stage. Wilson recalls stepping onto the platform in the green and gold kit for the first time, “It felt well, actually insane! The hard part was over. On that platform, you just get to enjoy the moment.” And enjoy the moment she did, returning from the recent Oceania Youth Championships with a Silver Medal, as well as holding three National Youth Records in the 80kg Snatch, 100kg Clean and Jerk, and 180kg Total.

Yet, as an athlete at her level of high performance, and expectations, injury setbacks become progressively inevitable as Wilson attempts to push her body to achieve her optimal performance outcomes. With multiple injuries including a severe back injury and nerve issues in her neck, both of which left her questioning whether she would be able to lift again, she has had to trace back to the burning passion that made her start in the first place. “You can quickly lose 50 kilos from your total (weight you can lift). You wonder if you will ever lift the same (weight) again,” she admits. “But then, you pick up the bar, and remember you can never give this up, as long as you are better than you were yesterday.” 

In the world of Olympic Weightlifting, the physical demands of the sport often overshadow the mental resolve needed to be successful. Beyond the physicality lies a game of control, of breathwork, nerves and belief. Before every lift, Wilson resets with a single, deep breath, grounding herself in repetition and ritual. “I remind myself that I have done this lift a million times. Nothing is different.” 

Despite being in her final year of high school, juggling elite sport and study, Wilson remains unshaken in her priorities. “Sport always comes first. Its my goal in life. That means sacrifices, but I’m willing.” 

Soon, Wilson will move from the youth category into the under-20 junior ranks, where competition stiffens and qualifying totals jump. Yet Wilson sees this as a chance to prove herself, with her eyes set on one day taking on the Olympic stage, she reminds herself that small progress and unshakeable determination will pave the way for her future. 

And outside of aiming for her own success, she has a realisation that to compete at the highest level, it helps if your competitors are just as hungry and ready as you are. Hence, the desire to give back as much to the sport that she herself has gained.  

With a Level 1 coaching accreditation already under her belt, Wilson is helping guide young lifters to follow in her footsteps. With the ability to assist in local competitions as a coach, Wilson has been able to reflect on her own processes leading into a competition and has gained a new respect for both her sport and the people who guide her as an athlete. “It’s a passion,” she explains. “Seeing a young lifters face light up when they lift a five-kilo bar, that joy is unmatched.” Observing others has also taught her that there is no single path to mental readiness before a lift. “Some people scream. Some dance. Some stay silent. Coaching lets me step back and trust the process. Not just theirs, but my own.” 

When asked what advice she would give to aspiring Olympic Weightlifters, Wilson did not hesitate in her response, “Take care of yourself. Your injuries, your sleep, your food. Do not wait until it is urgent. If you build the foundation early, everything else becomes easier.” 

In a sport often reduced to brute strength, Wilson’s journey reframes Olympic Weightlifting as something far more complex.

For her it remains a quiet test of patience, discipline and self-belief. It is not just about lifting the heaviest bar but showing up when no one else is watching. For her, success is earned in the early mornings and late evenings, in the cluttered gyms or in the silence of your own home gym, for that is when the true challenge emerges. Testing yourself, even when there is no crowd to cheer you on. Because in a sport like Olympic Weightlifting, it is not the weight on the bar that defines you, it is your will to keep on lifting it. 

--- 

If you would like to find out more about the success of athletes of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport, tune into ‘The Sports Academy’ radio show each Sunday afternoon between midday and 2pm on 100.3fm The Sounds of Macarthur, or head to the Academy's website www.swsas.org.au  

---END---