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Lets Move: Celebrating Olympic and Paralympic Day

Today (23 June), British Weight Lifting (BWL) joins the global sporting community in celebrating Olympic and Paralympic Day - a day that recognises the power of sport to inspire, unite and create opportunity.

Weightlifting has been part of the Olympic Games since the inaugural modern Games in Athens in 1896. What began as a single open-weight competition has evolved into the highly technical sport we know today, with athletes competing across bodyweight categories in two disciplines: the snatch and the clean and jerk.

Para powerlifting is recognised as the ultimate test of upper body strength and one of the fastest-growing Paralympic sports. The sport consists of a single discipline, the bench press, and has developed significantly since its Paralympic debut as weightlifting at the Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games. Since being renamed powerlifting at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games, the sport has expanded from male athletes with spinal cord injuries to include athletes of all genders with eligible physical impairments affecting the lower limbs or hips, as well as athletes with short stature. Today, athletes compete across 10 bodyweight categories for each gender.

Great Britain has a proud history of Olympic weightlifting and Paralympic powerlifting, with generations of athletes representing the nation on the world's biggest sporting stage. Their achievements continue to inspire future lifters and reflect the dedication, resilience and excellence that define our sports.

To mark Olympic and Paralympic Day, we've compiled a complete record of every British weightlifter and para powerlifter who has represented Great Britain from the 1896 Olympic Games through to the present day.

Olympic Weightlifting Results

Paralympic Powerlifting Results

Get started on your own journey

To mark Olympic and Paralympic Day 2026, British Weight Lifting is also highlighting the many ways people can take their first step into weightlifting and para powerlifting.

Our Olympic & Paralympic Day campaign encourages young people to be inspired by those who have gone before them, recognise that everyone starts somewhere, and feel confident taking their first step into sport.

Alongside exploring the achievements of British Olympic weightlifters and Paralympic powerlifters, we are encouraging new participants to get involved through their local club or by attending one of our practical learning opportunities.

Whether you're completely new to the sport or looking to build confidence under the bar, there are accessible entry points available:

Both pathways are designed to support beginners in learning fundamental movement, developing confidence and experiencing the benefits of strength training in a safe and welcoming environment.

British Weight Lifting would like to thank every athlete, coach, Technical Official, volunteer and member of the support team who has contributed to this remarkable legacy. As we celebrate those who have represented Great Britain on the Olympic and Paralympic stage, we also look forward to the next generation of athletes who will continue to inspire our sports.