British Weight Lifting Announces Team for European Championships

British Weight Lifting (BWL) is proud to announce its team for the upcoming European Weightlifting Championships in Bulgaria. This prestigious event is not just a showcase of Europe's top weightlifting talent but also a crucial step in the Olympic qualification journey.

The BWL team is a blend of experienced champions. The women's team includes Zoe Smith, Jess Gordon Brown, Erin Barton, Sarah Davies, Katrina Feklistova, and Emily Campbell, while the men's contingent features Jonathan Chin, Chris Murray, Cyrille Tchatchet II, and Andrew Griffiths. These athletes represent the pinnacle of British weightlifting, and their participation in Bulgaria is a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Supporting these athletes is a dedicated staff team, including Stuart Martin, Andrew Callard, Dave Sawyer, and physio Liam Rodgers. Their expertise and guidance are invaluable to our athletes' performance and well-being.

Dave Sawyer, BWL National Coach commenting on the team's composition and the event's significance, said, "I would like to express huge congratulations to all the athletes on their selection for these championships. We have 6 women and 4 men with all of them meeting the standard required. For British athletes, the competition is one of the final two qualifying events for the Paris Olympics, so is of massive significance for the individuals still in contention for a qualifying slot. Wishing all the very best from the performance team."

Alongside the European Championships, a special 7-day training camp will take place, welcoming 14 Age group athletes and 4 staff members from BWL. This camp is designed to offer up-and-coming athletes an invaluable opportunity to train intensively while observing some of the best weightlifters from Europe and around the world as they compete for European medals and Olympic qualification. The camp will also feature the USA national team, participating as guests in the event.

Training Camp Participants:

Athletes:

• Bella Brown
• Madison Farley
• Myren Madden
• Steve Bestman
• Drew Burns
• Maddie Rosher
• Erin Friel
• Eliza Pratt
• Amelie Pelta
• Rhys Deeley
• Corey Duncan
• Madeline Connelly
• Alex McKay
• Phoebe Davis

Staff:

• Kristian McPhee
• Amy Kirby-Saunders
• Julie Morrish
• Natalia Priscepa

Kristian McPhee, Lead Pathway Coach, highlighted the importance of this initiative: "Running alongside the European Championships will be a GB Youth, Junior and Under 23 training camp & European Championships experience. With an age range of 15-23 years old, this opportunity will allow the next generation and future Olympic hopefuls to experience, first-hand, the most important Olympic qualifying event in Europe. The Junior & Under 23 team highlights comprise of the recently crowned English Senior Champion Madison Farley, European Junior Bronze medallist Isabella Brown, and multiple youth and junior British record holders. On the men’s team we also bring together the top Under 23 96kg athletes Myren Madden, Stephen Bestman & Drew Burns, who will be pushing hard this year. Athletes will get a backstage experience of the event and support the best seniors in Britain and Europe as they fight for Olympic qualification to inspire them for 2028 and 2032!"

Matthew Curtain, the CEO of British Weight Lifting, also shared his thoughts on the significance of the event: "The European Championships are a pivotal moment not only for our athletes' Olympic aspirations but also for the collaboration between federations. It's thrilling to witness our senior athletes alongside top international contenders, providing an inspiring field of play for our upcoming lifters and coaches. The inclusion of talented female coaches like Amy Kirby-Saunders and Natalia Priscepa, joining the ranks of esteemed coaches like Julie Morrish, marks a significant step in our ongoing commitment to diversify and strengthen our coaching team. This event encapsulates our dedication to nurturing talent at all levels, promoting gender equality in coaching, and fostering a community that upholds the values of excellence and integrity in the sport."

The BWL team is set to make a significant impact at the European Championships, with each member poised to showcase their skills on this grand stage. Their journey represents the culmination of hard work, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of excellence – qualities that define British Weight Lifting.