ANDREWS-NAHU Kanah

General
RAISING THE BAR
In 2020 she said she was conscious that in order to realise her full potential, she would have to focus more on aspects of her training besides weightlifting, such as nutrition and mental strength. "I know I'm good, I know I'm really strong, but I could be great if I tried. And that's not just lifting weights, but in my nutrition and everything else that goes hand-in-hand with being an elite strength athlete. I have a lot of growth that needs to happen - not just physically but mentally too. You get to a point in your journey where you know you're talented and naturally strong, but talent only gets you so far. And that's really creeping up on me now." (stuff.co.nz, 05 Aug 2020)

PARENTAL INSPIRATION
She credits the influence of her parents, particularly her mother, who she says inspired her to study health science. "Damn, they did a lot for me when I was still in high school and couldn't drive myself to the gym. My mum studied nursing full-time, worked full-time, and was full-time looking after me. When I came here [her gym in Auckland, New Zealand] to train, she would sit at that table over there and study. So if she can do it, then I can do it too." (stuff.co.nz, 05 Aug 2020)

HERITAGE
She is of Maori, Samoan, Fijian and Dutch descent. She says she wants to learn how to speak the Maori language. "I know who I am, I'm a confident person who can stand on her own two feet. But if I learned how to speak fluent te reo [Maori], I would feel extremely empowered and have a real sense of connection." (stuff.co.nz, 05 Aug 2020; newsroom.co.nz, 10 Jun 2019)

She became the first New Zealand weightlifter to win a gold medal at the junior world championships, when she claimed gold for the snatch lift in the 76kg category at the 2019 Junior World Championships in Suva, Fiji. (newsroom.co.nz, 10 Jun 2019; iwf.net, 05 Jun 2019)