The first gold medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be won by the superhuman strength athletes of Para Powerlifting it has been announced.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Athletes and fans will get the historic chance to see,\u00a0close up, the first of 215 gold medal performances – including a record breaking 47 for Para sport – over the 11 days of elite sporting action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe incredible feats of Para Powerlifting will be\u00a0witnessed\u00a0at the SEC Armadillo on Friday 24 July over two sessions, 13.00-16.30 and 18.00-21.30 – and the start list is packed with the world\u2019s best. The Weightlifting sessions are fought out between 26 July and 30 July.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPara Powerlifting and Weightlifting\u00a0is\u00a0explosive viewing with some athletes\u00a0lifting up\u00a0to three times their body weight with the\u00a0possibilities\u00a0of seeing world records. It\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just about\u00a0the\u00a0strength\u00a0but the tactical games of choosing the right weights in the bid to become Champions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n Team Scotland\u2019s Hope Gordon will compete in the Women\u2019s Heavyweight (over 61kg) category<\/span>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg><\/p>\nPhotography Glasgow 2026\/PA<\/b><\/p>\n
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In a powerful statement,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the first time in Commonwealth Games history that a Para sport opens the medal tally.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nGym-enthusiasts and fitness fanatics will appreciate the feats and be able to measure their own performances against the elite and appreciate the quality athletes competing as the Games come alive.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBig emotions will be on show inside the Armadillo, where the Commonwealth\u2019s strongest athletes will battle it out on stage to secure their place in the history books and win a Commonwealth Games medal, one of weightlifting\u2019s most prestigious prizes.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTeam Scotland has Hope Gordon (Women\u2019s Heavyweight – over 61kg) and Finlay Davidson (Men\u2019s Lightweight \u2013 under 72kg) competing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHope, an amputee, is a world class Para canoeist and Para Nordic skier and veteran of Beijing 2022, said:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u201cBeing part of Team Scotland is a lifelong dream. When I heard the Games were heading back to Glasgow, I knew I had to try to be part of it. Glasgow holds a lot of memories for me.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0where I spent a lot of time in hospital as a child, so\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been a big part of my life, just not necessarily for the most positive of reasons.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u201cFor my family as well, having to travel down from the Highlands to Glasgow on a regular basis to visit me in hospital, it was a\u00a0pretty tough\u00a0time for them too. The thought of being able to compete for Scotland in Scotland, and in Glasgow, and try to spin those memories to make it more of a positive vibe for my family and friends is exciting.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Team England\u2019s Olivia Broome, a double Paralympic bronze\u00a0medallist, is looking to go one better than her silver medal in Birmingham 2022 in the Women\u2019s Lightweight, and teammate Mark Swan is a Paris 2024 silver\u00a0medallist, current European Champion and can bench press 220kg.<\/span>\u00a0Malaysia\u2019s two-time Paralympic Champion, Bonnie\u00a0Bunyau\u00a0Gustin is back to defend his title in the Men\u2019s Lightweight. Team Nigeria\u2019s Women\u2019s Heavyweight reigning champion Folashade\u00a0Oluwafemiayo\u00a0is looking for another gold after her world record four years ago. Nigeria topped the medal table last time out with four, including gold and two silvers.<\/span>\u00a0Para Powerlifting is the ultimate test of upper body strength, with athletes competing in the bench press discipline in classes based on gender and weight. All athletes competing in the Para Powerlifting event have an impairment in their lower limbs or hips that\u00a0meets\u00a0the minimum impairment criteria to compete.<\/span>\u00a0Weightlifters compete over eight weight categories, in the men\u2019s ranging from 60kg to the giants of 110kg-plus, and in the women\u2019s events between 48kg and 86kg-plus.<\/span>\u00a0Natalie Cunningham, Director of Sport, Glasgow 2026 said:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>It is a powerful statement that Para Powerlifting will be the first medals won at Glasgow 2026. They\u00a0will amaze the crowd with their feats of strength and explosive lifting ability. Both the Para Powerlifting and the Weightlifting entries are packed with the world\u2019s best with some legends of the sport with a host of major medal wins. Alongside that we have emerging superstars. The crowds at the SEC will be treated to an intense and emotional competition.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Massimo Dighe, Acting Head of World Para Powerlifting and Director of World Para\u00a0Sports\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u201cSince joining the program over 20 years ago, Para Powerlifting has become an integral part of the Commonwealth Games. To have the first medal of Glasgow 2026 coming from our sport is a major milestone and a fantastic opportunity for fans to see the world’s best Para powerlifters in action right on day one \u2013 and continue following them on the global stage in future events.”<\/span>\u00a0Mohammed Jalood,\u00a0President\u00a0of the International Weightlifting Federation,\u00a0said:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0“The entire weightlifting community is expecting a thrilling competition in Glasgow, in what will surely be another demonstration of the vitality and strength of our Sport in the five continents. Weightlifting has been present at the Commonwealth Games since\u00a01950\u00a0and we are proud of the value and excitement it brings to the competition. Glasgow 2026 will be no exception to the\u00a0rule\u00a0and we naturally wish the best of luck to all participants in the event.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIn weightlifting, athletes compete in two disciplines. The snatch sees the lifter pick up the barbell with a wide grip and\u00a0raise\u00a0it overhead in one fluid motion.<\/span>\u00a0In the clean and jerk, the lifter first cleans the bar to their shoulders, pauses, then drives it overhead (jerk) with locked elbows, holding it steady until the buzzer sounds.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n England\u2019s Emily Campbell – the most successful British female weightlifter of modern times \u2013 is set to return to the stage to not only retain her title but cement her status as a leading super heavyweight.<\/span>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg><\/p>\nPhotography Ryan Pierse\/Getty Images<\/b><\/p>\n
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Lifters get three snatch\u00a0<\/span>attempts<\/span>\u00a0and three clean and jerk attempts. Weights increase throughout the competition, and athletes must tactically select what to go for at each stage, often\u00a0<\/span>impacted<\/span>\u00a0by the choices of their nearest rivals.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The combined total of each lifter\u2019s best snatch and best\u00a0<\/span>clean<\/span>\u00a0and jerk decides the finishing positions.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Team Scotland has named\u00a0<\/span>newly-crowned<\/span>\u00a0British champions Madeline Rosher, a rising superstar of the sport, Alex Mackay, Angus Doig and Drew Burns. Former international Scottish gymnast turned weightlifter and local lifter, Beth Ashbee competes in her first Games.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Team Scotland\u2019s Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss, said: \u201cTo compete at a Commonwealth Games is special, but to do so in front of a home crowd in Glasgow will make it even more memorable. I am confident our weightlifting team will\u00a0<\/span>embrace the occasion and represent Scotland with pride both on and off the platform.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>England\u2019s Emily Campbell is the most successful British female weightlifter of modern times and a Birmingham 2022 Champion. Emily is set to return to the stage to not only\u00a0<\/span>retain<\/span>\u00a0her title but cement her status as a leading super heavyweight and hungry to set new Commonwealth records.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Rising superstar and Samoan golden girl, teenager Seine Stowers (77kg) is a junior Commonwealth Champion and ready to raise the roof with potential world record attempts.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Team India topped the medal table in the last two Games with ten in Birmingham 2022, including three golds. Mirabai Chanu is a double gold Commonwealth Games\u00a0<\/span>medallist<\/span>\u00a0in the women\u2019s 48kg returning to Glasgow where her Commonwealth Games journey started back in 2014. Harjinder Kaur and\u00a0<\/span>Bindyarani<\/span>\u00a0Devi were Birmingham 2022 silver\u00a0<\/span>medallists<\/span>\u00a0looking to improve and go for gold, respectively.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Papua New Guinea\u2019s weightlifting team is a true family affair with a set of brothers and a set of sisters competing, most notably Dika Toua who has competed at every female Olympic\u00a0<\/span>games<\/span>\u00a0since its inclusion in Sydney 2000. Aussie Oliver Saxton\u2019s dad, a former weightlifter competed for Great Britain at the 1988 Olympics and is\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games\u00a0<\/span>Champion<\/span>\u00a0and his mum was also a GB weightlifter.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Australia also sees the return of their most successful lifter and reigning Commonwealth champion Eileen Cikamatana. Canada has former Olympic champion, 2022 Champion and World silver\u00a0<\/span>medallist<\/span>, Maude Charron and rising star Etta May Love joining the line up in Glasgow.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The final ticket drop is on sale now for Para Powerlifting and Weightlifting with tickets for as little as \u00a310. Fans are encouraged not to miss out and get their hands on their tickets today, available at\u202f<\/span><\/span>glasgow2026.com\/tickets<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u202f<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n