The People’s Choice Awards, powered by Power Grid Projects

This brand-new award celebrates the raw courage, resilience, and passion at the heart of British Weight Lifting. Sponsored by Power Grid Projects, the People’s Choice Award recognises three athletes: one Senior Weightlifter, one Masters Weightlifter, and one Para Powerlifter, whose performances at the British Championships went beyond the numbers on the bar.

Whether it’s a comeback story, a never-give-up moment, or a lift that ignited the crowd, this award honours those who showed true heart on the platform.

Matthew Curtain, CEO of British Weight Lifting commented: “We are incredibly proud to introduce the People’s Choice Award: a brand-new honour that shines a light on the courage, resilience and sheer heart that defines our sports. This award is about more than just kilos lifted; it’s about the stories behind the athletes, the moments that moved the crowd, the comebacks that inspired us all, and the unwavering determination that defines British Weight Lifting.

I want to extend our sincere thanks to Power Grid Projects for their generous support in making this award possible. Their commitment to recognising and celebrating the human spirit in sport aligns perfectly with our values, and we’re delighted to have them on this journey with us.

With a £500 cash prize awarded to one outstanding Senior Weightlifter, one Masters Weightlifter, and one Para Powerlifter, the People’s Choice Award will give our community a voice, and our athletes the recognition they so richly deserve.”

How It Works:

Nominations open to athletes, coaches, fans, and officials from 17 July to 27 July 2025.

After the nomination window has closed, a shortlist of three athletes per category is selected by a panel based on grit, adversity overcome, emotional impact, execution under pressure, and crowd reaction.

The public will then vote to crown one winner per category.

The Prize:

Each of the three winners will receive a £500 cash award in recognition of their performance- powered by the passion and support of the Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting community.

Award criteria:

To be eligible to win, a nominated lift should embody at least one (ideally several) of the following qualities:

1. Grit and Determination

• Did the athlete display exceptional mental toughness?
• Did they push through physical or psychological barriers to complete the lift?
• Were they battling fatigue, injury, or a challenging comeback?

2. Adversity Overcome

• Did the lift follow a failed attempt, injury, or long absence from competition?
• Was the athlete facing personal, physical, or situational challenges?
• Did they defy the odds to succeed?

3. Emotional Impact

• Did the lift spark a visible emotional response- either from the athlete or the crowd?
• Did it tell a powerful story or represent a milestone moment?
• Was it a defining or career-highlight lift?

4. Technical Execution Under Pressure

• Did the athlete complete the lift with sound form under intense pressure?
• Was the lift critical to their placing (e.g., a last attempt, medal position)?

5. Crowd Reaction & Energy

• Did the lift electrify the audience or create a standout atmosphere at the event?
• Was it one of the most talked-about or shared moments from the British Championships?

Nominate now!

To nominate your favourite moment from the British Championships, please send an email to marcom@britishweightlifting.org with the email subject ‘People’s Choice Award’.

In the body of the email, include the following information:

Athlete name:

Category:

Why does this moment meet the award criteria:

Then attach a video of the athlete’s lift.

Click here to nominate