European Senior Weightlifting Championships 2021 Squad Announcement

The European Senior Weightlifting Championships will be taking place in Moscow from Saturday 3 April to Sunday 11 April. British Weight Lifting are pleased to be taking a small squad as a qualifying competition for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

British Weight Lifting and the selection panel would like to thank everybody who worked hard to qualify but, due to the ongoing challenges and health and safety concerns presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, have chosen to take a reduced team to Moscow.

The panel wants to assure all those athletes who had put the training and hard work in to be selected for the European Senior Weightlifting Championships (EWC) that this non-selection is in no way a reflection of their abilities. The panel was incredibly impressed by the progress demonstrated by so many athletes during such a challenging year for the sport. There were 15 athletes who lifted above the minimum standard necessary to be considered for selection to the EWC 2021. The panel felt that a large team of athletes would have been selected for this competition, however the risks to the health of athletes and staff were not appropriate at the time. 

British Weight Lifting recognise that there are 4 athletes who need to compete in order to maintain their eligibility and/or secure their qualification for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The squad consists of:

• Zoe Smith, (W59)
• Sarah Davies, (W64)
• Emily Muskett, (W71)
• Emily Campbell, (W87+)

Zoe Smith and Emily Campbell received bronze and Emily Muskett won silver at the last European Championships in 2019. We will all be cheering them on for this 2021 competition to help them build on their fantastic past results.

When can you watch the GB athletes?

  You can watch all the action live on Eurosport 2. Please note that these times are subject to change.

Smith’s class sees 24 women competing and it’s close at the top. Izabella Yaylyan of Armenia lifting a 220kg best total to Smith’s 216kg. She’s closely followed by Dora Tchakounte of France too.

Sarah Davies, is currently ranked third in her class of 22 lifters. With 1kg separating Davies’ best total and second ranked Nuray Levent’s, it will be a fierce competition.

Emily Muskett sits at the top of her 71kg class with a best total of 231kg. Her closest rival is Raluca Andreea Olaru of Romania, who’s best total stands at 215kg.

Emily Campbell sits second in her category with a best total of 271kg. She’ll be chasing Anastasiia Lysenko of Ukraine, who’s best total stands at 280kg.

Each athlete has their sight set on a podium finish and British Weight Lifting wish them the very best in their efforts. See the full list of competitors here.

British Weight Lifting would also like to extend their thanks to those coaches who have agreed to travel to help those athletes selected for the EWC 2021.

These are:

• Dave Sawyer
• Andy Callard
• Stuart Martin