Patterson and McTaggart: Coach and Pupil

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for New Zealand's weightlifting coach Richie Patterson on the road to the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

Patterson went from his gold medal ceremony at the recent Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he won top prize in the 85kg category, to his wedding ceremony in the same city two days later.

Then, after a short honeymoon in Barcelona, Patterson headed to Nanjing to coach Cameron McTaggart in the mens 69kg competition.

I am looking forward to having some down time, said Patterson.

Patterson, who had a combined lift of 335kg at the Commonwealth Games, married his business and training partner Pip Hale, who finished fifth in the womens 53kg at the Glasgow Games.

We thought with both families [in Glasgow], it would be a nice way to celebrate. And I have Scottish heritage so it made sense, said the groom.  

With gold around his neck, and a silver wedding band on his finger, Patterson would like nothing more than to add another piece of precious metal to his collection, but he knows his protege is a long shot for a Youth Games medal.

He is another three to four years away, he said. This is a great development thing for Cam, looking ahead to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games [in Australia in 2018] and Tokyo [the 2020 Olympic Games].

This is a great learning experience. It is a pinnacle event for him and we will try for national records and personal bests, but it is for development.

McTaggart was a gymnast when he grew tired of that sport and went looking for something else to do. He walked into Patterson's gym in Auckland and was soon hooked on weightlifting.

When Cam first came to the gym he was 12 and we looked at his birth date, said Patterson. I said this was perfect because he will be in his last year as a youth lifter come the Nanjing Youth Olympics. I thought he was talented so we should have a crack at it.

McTaggart, who will compete on Tuesday, shares his coach's focus on development rather than medals.

I just want to do the best I can and get some personal bests, some national records, he said.

Patterson, meanwhile, intends to carry on combining competing with coaching.

It is basically my life so I can switch on to coaching quickly. I enjoy coaching maybe more than competing because there are so many different elements, said PATTERSON, who was also New Zealands weightlifting coach at the Commonwealth Games.

There is a lot riding on you getting the timing right with your athlete so he is in peak condition.

You are teaching them everything you wish you would have known at their age.

I am trying to give Cam everything I wish I had when I was 17 so he can ultimately be better than I am.

YIS aa/sg/tb