QUEENSLAND, Australia — At just 17 years old, Gabriel Intal, a proud Filipino-Australian, is already making waves in the world of weightlifting.
This young powerhouse clinched gold at the 2025 Australian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) Youth and Under-15 Championships, held from October 18 to 19 in Queensland — a victory that proved his strength, discipline, and heart.
Competing in the 56-kilogram bodyweight category, Gabriel lifted 53 kilos in the Snatch event and 80 kilos in the Clean and Jerk, giving him a total of 133 points — enough to secure the top spot in the Youth category.
But behind that golden lift is a story of passion, perseverance, and humble beginnings.
“My first competition was in November last year,” Gabriel shared. “It was just a small event between nearby clubs. Since then, I’ve joined three major competitions — and won gold in all of them.”
A Year 11 student from the Gold Coast, Queensland, Gabriel’s journey started not in a national gym, but in a school fitness center.
“I started training in September last year. My coach noticed my work ethic in the school gym and invited me to train at his own gym,” he recalled. “I began seeing results, stayed consistent, and slowly fell in love with weightlifting.”
The Queensland Weightlifting Association (QWA) describes Olympic weightlifting as more than just brute strength — it’s a precise, technical art that takes months of coaching to perfect. Gabriel has clearly mastered both strength and skill.
Now, he’s looking beyond Australia.
“I’m planning to continue training and compete on the next level,” he said with quiet confidence. “Hopefully, I’ll be ready for international competition soon.”
Rooted in Filipino Pride
Gabriel’s success is also a family triumph. His parents, Michael and Rose Intal, both hail from Manila, Philippines. They moved to Singapore, where Gabriel and his twin sister Ella were born in 2008, before settling in Australia in 2011 with their family, including older sister Seanna and younger brother Sethiel.
Outside of weightlifting, Gabriel enjoys golf, running, swimming, and hitting the gym — a true all-around athlete.
As he eyes the global stage, his story reminds us that passion, discipline, and a little faith can lift anyone to greatness — one rep, one lift, one dream at a time.
