Cost-to-medal ratio might seem like expensive bling for our nation (some predictions are as high as $11 million per medal, depending on this weekend’s outcomes), our ‘winning edge’ funding model might need tweaking, and athletes dished the biggest funding slices should shoulder some accountability.

But, fellow taxpayers, we are not giving our Olympians anywhere near enough funding.

Consider all the money we fork out for health-related issues as our population grows fatter. Take a more proactive stance. Inspire a nation to get moving.

The Olympics at the core is about all shapes of athletes striving to reach their best: swifter, higher, stronger. It is also a chance for less-prominent sports to have global exposure in showcasing what they are about. Sports otherwise overlooked.

For a small band of teenagers in a Wendouree gym, the Olympics has allowed a rare chance to study the best in the world at their game: Olympic weightlifting.

Far from a major sport in Australia – our male weightlifter in Rio is Cameroon-born, our female is a top-level CrossFitter – but young Ballarat lifters are starting to learn the names of leading elites.

They are learning their stories, like Colombian Oscar Figueroa who won his nation’s first Olympic gold in his fourth Games. Figueroa left his shoes on the platform after his final lift, walking out in retirement.

They are learning respect for their sport.

Ashanti Barbera is a karate fighter, who also does a little CrossFit. The 14-year-old said weightlifting challenged mental toughness.

“I like it because it helps with my endurance to keep lifting weights,” Ashanti told Press Box. “Even if it gets heavier and harder, I keep going and going. It helps high-intensity training.”

Ballarat Weightlifting and Strength started a junior program last December. The focus is on technique. Students must master movement lifting broomsticks before bars in carefully calculated graduations. They are training for their first Olympic-style competition, which demands two disciplines (snatch and clean-and-jerk), run just like they see in Rio.

Thirteen-year-old Evan Clyne admits he is a bit nervous about competition, but weightlifting was about the challenge.

“This has helped me a lot with my fitness, getting back on track instead of being lazy,” Evan said. “I’ve felt stronger physically, mentally and socially.”

Their coach Lukas Mortimer also runs classes and private training sessions for adults, who are largely seeking extra strength and conditioning. He has found weightlifting was increasingly popular with women.

“I think it’s just because weightlifting is different,” Mortimer said. “It does take a lot of patience but it’s a really great feeling when you get it right – the bar should almost feel weightless, in a sense, when you get it right.”

Investment in Olympians can repay the nation in more than just bling for our money.