Brandon’s Deadly Choice: Getting at least eight hours of sleep a night
Brandon is an Olympic Weightlifter, training towards qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Born in the western Sydney suburb of Campbelltown, Brandon moved to the Gold Coast at the age of five with his parents, where he started in his sporting endeavours.
Rugby League and track and field were his major sports growing up, playing for both Tweed Heads and Gold Coast Indigenous representative rugby league teams. He ceased competing in track and field after graduating high school and continued playing rugby league up until the age of 21, when he began focussing on graduating university while also making a late swap into a different sport.
He took up the sport of Olympic Weightlifting at the end of 2015 and set his sights on qualifying for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, despite only just starting out in the sport. Fast forward two and a half years later, Brandon became national champion while also qualifying for the 2018 Commonwealth Games weightlifting team, where he was the only Indigenous man in the team. He placed 7th at the Gold Coast event in a close fought battle between contenders.
He now has his sights set on qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Brandon wants to demonstrate to community that you can still achieve a dream no matter disadvantages and setbacks you have to overcome, while also stressing the importance of education and making deadly choices in everyday life.
Favourite healthy meal: Steak with salad and sweet potato.
Favourite exercise: Barbell squats.
Follow Brandon:
Facebook: Brandon Wakeling
Twitter: @BrandonWakeling
Instagram: @brandon_wakeling