Adaptive Open returns for 2026 at Oldbury Academy

On 7 June 2026, British Weight Lifting (BWL) hosted its second ever Adaptive Open at Oldbury Academy in the West Midlands, continuing its commitment to creating an inclusive competitive platform for athletes across weightlifting and para powerlifting.

The event brought together athletes of different backgrounds and experiences for a competition designed around participation, progression and accessibility, providing a supportive environment where athletes could compete on their own terms.

Building on the success of the inaugural event in 2025, this year’s Adaptive Open once again highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for athletes who may not always fit traditional competition structures, while reinforcing BWL’s wider ambition to grow participation across the sport.

Results:

View the full competition results here

Athlete reflection

One competitor, Holly Wright, shared her experience of taking part in the event:

“Hi I’m Holly Wright and I train at CrossFit-Fixus in Manchester.

Today I attended my first ever Adaptive Weightlifting Event at Oldbury academy in the Black Country West Midlands, and it was great fun!

I have a C4 incomplete spinal cord injury which effects my body from the collar bone down after an accident in 2019.

Today’s event was strangely terrifying and addictive all at the same time. I found out about the event from a friend who also competes in this event. Weightlifting is not my strong suit at all, but I love the fact this event takes that into account. There is no expectation to win! just come along take part and have fun and I love that.
The event gives you a space where you and just do what you need to do with no judgement.

I hadn’t realised how different CrossFit and weightlifting movements are until I took part in an event like this. It would be great if that awareness could be shared with the CrossFit community for all athletes wanting to take part in weightlifting events.

I’m learning a lot. CrossFit is still my preferred training style, but I definitely want to add in more weightlifting into my workouts, I think it will help improve my CrossFit and overall functional strength and fitness.

Being physically active since my injury has been key to my recovery. If you don’t have strength or some kind of entry into fitness after a life changing injury, I think it dramatically changes the outcome of not only first 1-5 years after but also the long-term health is going to be. I had CrossFit in my life before my injury so I feel really lucky that I could step back into it and figure out a way through it not only physically but mentally. I think more people should feel like they have a space to be physically active after a life changing injury instead of facing barriers that are currently in place for people trying to access sport.

The location of this event is great, and the maximum id be able to travel if I’m honest. It hasn’t been ideal due to the nature of my injury I have to stick to a regular routine which I have needed to adjust to attend today. I helped today too that we didn’t have to wait for hours to compete. I thought it was great being able to speak to British Weight Lifting prior to the event to discuss my needs and lifting style as adaptive lifting will look different for each individual and won’t always be textbook like it is with your standard competitions. I wanted them to understand what my lockout looked like for me and for that to be considered.

This is something that needs to be considered for events like this as it’s not as straightforward as turn up and compete for us, there are other considerations that need to be made on our part, and this can affect whether we can attend or not.
Access to today’s event was fine, the sports hall is easy to access, bathrooms are close and easy to find, the temperature of the building is great too. These are important to me; it may be different for others but for these are some of the things I look for.
The staff have been great, especially with the fact I don’t have a coach and have travelled up on my own they are a great support.

There is another athlete here today who has recently started at CrossFit-Fixus, who signed up to this competition because I’m here! It’s always that ripple effect that someone tell you about something you didn’t know existed and then you do it, someone else does and then the event grows! some of us found out by following people on Instagram and that’s helping to spread awareness of this event. The more people spreading the word means the more people find out that there are events out there for them, where they can take part and be involved and it isn’t a closed door for them. Its nice to feel like im surrounded by kin because I have a space, I belong and I will absolutely be back next year!”

Looking ahead

The Adaptive Open continues to play an important role in providing accessible entry points into competition, ensuring more athletes can experience the platform in a way that reflects their individual needs and abilities.

BWL will continue to develop opportunities that support inclusive participation and strengthen pathways into both weightlifting and para powerlifting.