Weightlifting ‘wunderkind’ snatches new Champion title from home

Tuesday 03 November 2020

Competing online and being one of the youngest competitors in her category hasn't stopped a local weightlifter from snatching two personal bests and a new British Champion title.

Charlotte Neale’s recent success is her fourth in the mere two-and-a-half years since she started the sport.

The achievement has qualified her for the GB team at the IFW Youth World Cup which will take place virtually between 11 and 18 November.

Once again, Charlotte is set to be making history for Jersey as the first local athlete to compete at world level for weightlifting. Last December, she already made history as the first Jersey athlete to represent Great Britain during the European Youth Championships in Israel.

Video: Charlotte competed virtually in the latest competition. 

“It feels incredible to be selected to represent Great Britain and Jersey on the world stage,” Charlotte said. “Especially as I think I will be the first person from Jersey to compete at world level for weightlifting which is very exciting and a great leap forwards for strength sports and breaking the stereotype that girls can’t lift weights.”

This latest selection comes after the young athlete won a new British Champion title in the under 17, under 59kg, category during the British Weightlifting British and English Age Group Championships.

Having started lifting weights in April 2018, as part of the JSF’s 'Power to Podium' Programme - which aims to prove Jersey can produce athletes able to compete at high level, with a good coaching environment and the right system behind the athletes - Charlotte now has four national titles and two regional titles.

With the British Senior Championships lined up at the end of November, Charlotte admitted she hadn’t specifically prepared for the competition, apart from taking a few days off.

Pictured: Charlotte now has four national titles and two regional ones.

“I wasn’t expecting to do that well in this competition but I ended up getting two personal bests which I’m really happy with and has allowed me to qualify for the Youth World Cup,” she said.

“I am very pleased to be British and English champion again, especially as I am now in an older category and one of the younger competitors.”

Due to the pandemic, the latest competition took place on a new online platform designed by British Weightlifting (BWL).

“The competition was very different to normal as everything including the weigh-in and all six lifts were recorded and sent to British Weightlifting to be judged and the results come back a week later,” Charlotte explained.

“The atmosphere is also very different as there is less adrenaline than a normal competition however I am grateful to have had my teammates competing alongside me and to have their incredible support.

"Also, I have to thank British weightlifting and the Jersey Sport Foundation for allowing the competition to run and making the most of the current situation.”

Charlotte wasn’t the only ‘Power2Podium’ athlete to shine at the competition.

Gabby Proper won a British Champion title in the under-15, under 45kg, category, while Jorja Clarke came fourth in the under-15, under 59kg, category.

“The most important thing is all three athletes have remained consistent, improved and learnt some lessons from the competitions, the titles are nice addition but not the focus,” the JSF said.

“It is wonderful to see these ladies developing in the sport and also developing the sport itself.  They are very much ambassadors for Jersey, and also trail blazers for challenging the dogma surround female involvement in strength sports!”