How Hani harnessed mum and mana to go 'balls out' for bronze

Australian para powerlifter Hani Watson secured her second consecutive Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the heavyweight category, lifting a personal best of 147kg in Glasgow. The effervescent athlete found a moment of profound stillness amidst the arena's countdown clock, drawing strength from her late mother’s words and her cultural heritage.

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You got this darlin'.

Watson, who lost her mother Laurita June "Bub" Rayward in 2023, credits her mother for shaping her into the strong woman she is today. "I believe in having that spirit, that energy, that mana, my culture that's within me, the Australian spirit and just sitting there and calming myself down and listening to that internal voice," Watson explained after her win.

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I believe in having that spirit, that energy, that mana, my culture that's within me, the Australian spirit and just sitting there and calming myself down and listening to that internal voice.

She described how she blocked out the pressure of the numbers, choosing to "go balls out" and trust her training. This approach allowed her to surpass her 2022 bronze-winning lift of 127kg by a significant margin. The crowd at Glasgow's Armadillo was captivated by her performance, though the loudest cheers were reserved for the Nigerian athletes.

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As kids we don't listen to our parents, but I'm listening to them now. And they told me, 'This is your superpower, this is what you can do, this is what you need to focus on.'

Nigeria's Rita Ferdinard took silver, while Folashade Oluwafemiayo claimed gold, shattering the 86kg+ world record with a 175kg lift. Watson sees Oluwafemiayo as a benchmark, stating, "It's nice to have someone to chase and I keep chasing her, I keep looking up to her." She aims to close the gap by the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, acknowledging Oluwafemiayo's extensive experience and mentorship.

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I didn't actually think I was going to hit the numbers coach was gonna ask me to hit. But I just blocked it out, I didn't wanna know. I just went balls out and just hit it.