When people ask me what weightlifting is
and they learn that a girl is lifting a bar with weight
it always makes an impression.
For me, weightlifting is more than a sport, it's a passion.
I don't know what I would have done
without weightlifting.
I really don't know.
My name is Lyla, I'm 15 years-old.
I live in Villers-Bretonneux
with my little brother and our two parents.
Villers-Bretonneux is a really calm city.
I don't really know what else to say.
It's just quiet.
I began weightlifting at ten years old.
Maybe a little earlier. I had back problems.
At first, I was doing physical therapy.
After physical therapy, I started weightlifting
and moved into competing.
Where are we?
We are at De Bretonneux Middle School
where I spent four years.
Sometimes, I used to be afraid to go to school.
I was bullied by several people.
But then I started training
and weightlifting helped me gain confidence in myself.
Mental strength.
OK girls, let's start practice.
I wanna start with the first one!
Oh no, I hate squats!
-OK, I’ll take the squat. -I’ll take the jerk.
Don't forget to slowly warm up with the bar first.
Control the start.
Keep your wrists straight, Lyla.
Spread your feet a bit more, Lyla.
She was only ten when she arrived at the Club.
When they come very young it's easier,
we know their families.
We know them almost as well as their parents.
My rower working out.
Ludovic, who was the coach, at the helm with an 8-kilo bar.
It was her first training, her first try at weightlifting.
Yes, her first training session.
She was lacking in confidence like all little girls do.
And this helped her to grow and gain confidence.
Lyla, bar in contact with your shoulders.
Insist more.
Legs, shoulders and arms.
A bit too fast.
Finish it!
There you go.
Lyla is an introverted girl who is very sensitive.
It's not necessarily a flaw,
but these years here have toughened her up progressively.
She’s still young and the path is long.
She will need to develop
the character of a high-level athlete
and be guided by professionals
We follow whatever decision she makes.
We don't want her to have any regrets.
I love this one.
I've changed physically.
But you always have your smile in the pictures.
We could make some cookies,
for you to take to boarding school?
If your brother leaves any.
Maybe I'll have one this time.
You had many last time.
Pepsi!
Pepsi is finally having a swim.
She's one week in Amiens and the other week at home.
We got used to it.
We're talking on the phone every day
so the week goes by quickly.
This is the COVID rhythm.
One week at home and one week at school.
Don't put the shell.
It looks yummy.
This is where I spend most of my time when I'm home.
The first place I go to when I'm back on Fridays
is my bedroom.
Because it's quiet, I'm alone in here.
Nobody can bother me.
You’re coming down for dinner? You should go to bed early.
-Good luck. Will you call me? -Yes. Kisses.
Your friend is waiting for you on the train, isn't he?
Yes.
Mom has already texted you, hasn’t she?
Yes.
In this way I am the last to say bye to her.
-Hello, how are you? -Fine, and you?
Are you ready for our class presentation?
Yes, I hope so!
I hope too, otherwise we're in trouble!
Your attention please...
To be far from school,
would mean taking the train, leaving early.
It scared me before.
But my new high school is great.
I get along with everyone.
I have a great class.
It's only athletes in lots of different sports
like figure skating, American football, soccer referees.
I don't believe the size of your bags!
I don't really have a choice!
In Villers, we reach everywhere by foot
or by car and it's still close.
In Amiens, there's the train, the bus.
There’s more people.
I feel good.
I'm happy to get back to school to see my friends.
Look Manon, we're saved!
That's awesome.
What food did you bring?
M&M’s
I think that's all.
You should have brought back Kinder Bueno.
This is a really good atmosphere.
Sometimes Manon is singing and dancing in the room.
That's just a detail.
Hello!
-How are you? Hi! -Hi! Fine and you?
Sorry, who has read the book? Just out of curiosity
Everyone, listen to me for a moment!
Before the exercise,
I want to explain to you again what you have to do.
OK?
It's the first time we have a female weightlifter
in the tenth grade sports class.
She was the only girl to practice this sport
so we thought it might be isolating for her.
I think she's probably had anxious phases
but she's overcome them.
I took some cookies but I forgot them,
they were homemade cookies!
Oh no, how could you forget them?
She's determined, she has a drive within her
that helps her overcome the fragilities
and anxieties of being a high schooler today.
We're elated to follow
her progress as a student in these times.
What I like about weightlifting is surpassing myself.
It’s mental and physical.
Before stepping up to a bar,
I used to think I couldn’t do it because it’s heavy.
But if I think that
then it's almost certain I won't lift it.
I always tell myself that it's lighter than it really is.
If we only think of the weight it's...
It becomes more difficult.
At the start of every season,
I always set my end-of-season objectives.
For snatch, I'm at 55 kilos.
70 kilos for the clean-and-jerk.
105 kilos for the squat.
-That's impressive. -Yes.
It’s not only about the weight of each lift, but the total.
It’s about qualifying
for the French and European Championships.
Good on the decent, not too fast.
David is my coach.
He saw me start when I was 10 years old.
And today, he is my coach.
-Did you try a 48? -Yes, twice.
Our center in Amiens
is a springboard to go from the club to national teams
and Lyla is one of those young athletes.
So when she finished junior high school last year,
we offered her to join this school in Amiens.
And we're working closely with the Koala club
to have a continuity in her athletic career.
Straighten out your back at the start.
Lyla's decided in what she wants,
that's really important.
On a personal level her goal is the Olympics.
So we should focus on 2028 for Lyla.
Breathe out.
Even if there are ups and downs,
I'm happy to train.
I want to succeed.
I would like to participate in the Olympic Games
and in the World Championships.
It scares me, but at the same time,
it's what I want to do.
It's good. I'm starting to grow up.