Coach Education

Tell us your previous experiences within weightlifting and of any achievements as a competitor?

I have competed in weightlifting since 2014, when I did my first competition in my local gym. In the years that followed I was lucky enough to compete at the Junior battle in Austria, a few Celtics and the commonwealth games in Australia 2018. 

What made you get involved into coaching?

I love the sport of weightlifting and I wanted to help people feel as empowered as I did when I trained or competed. 

What do you like about being a coach and volunteering at competitons/training camps?

I like helping out and hopefully bringing something to the table that will help the lifters in some way, whether that's from my S&C background or something else I'm happy to help and be around people who also love the sport.

How would you describe the coaching  community in Wales?

Supportive and friendly, you'll always turn up at competitions and see other coaches who have been in the game a while, if you reach out for help or advice on something it's usually given.

Why do you think volunteering is important in sport, and what would you say to someone considering becoming a Coach? 

Coaching is immensely rewarding, not only in the achievements within the sport but seeing people grow and evolve, start to believe in their capabilities and trust their minds and bodies. 

Tell us your previous experiences within weightlifting and of any achievements as a competitor?

I have been involved in weightlifting for fourteen years as an athlete and have provided coaching for the last ten years. Although I have experienced success as an athlete (British and Welsh Champion and represented Wales at the 2023 Commonwealth Championships) I consider my biggest achievement sticking around long enough to complete my life’s goal - to be an International Athlete.

What made you get involved into coaching?

My initial involvement in coaching was during my time as a Water Polo athlete; by volunteering my time as a coach I was supported in accessing the funds for memberships and entry costs. However, I realised the investment I was afforded by coaching staff was helping me to navigate life outside of sport. I learnt values, character and ethics from the coaches who sacrificed their time for my own growth. Over time I began to see that coaching was more than the context of performance; it is about investing in the person as a whole. Sport has, and will always be the biggest influence on my evolution as a person; I am proud to be in a position now where I can give back what I took as a young person from the coaches who made me who I am.

What do you like about being a coach and volunteering at competitons/training camps?

For me the joy is watching an athlete’s journey and the way they develop confidence and belief. Weightlifting is an incredibly objective sport and we obviously celebrate the big lifts and PB’s, but seeing individuals flourish and succeed goes much deeper that success on the platform. Training camps are an amazing opportunity to spend more intensive time with athletes and you develop a much broader understanding of their movement patterns and approaches to certain lifts; its also a good space to learn more about people’s lives outside of sport and I think this is what really generates positive relationships with athletes. Coaching at competitions with multiple lifters who I hadn’t directly worked with before forced the most significant development for me; its incredibly fast paced and you have to analyse so much information quickly to determine an effective competition strategy.

How would you describe the coaching community in Wales?

The coaching community in Wales is full of people who are open to sharing their knowledge and I have learnt so much from spending time with coaches who have a different approach to me. Everyone is willing to learn from each other and contribute towards your exposure and development. There are so many clubs and coaches in Wales who have given me an increased breadth of knowledge that has helped further my skill set.

Why do you think volunteering is important in sport, and what would you say to someone considering becoming a Coach?

Knowledge is most powerful when its shared. You have something to offer to someone and you might not realise how unique that is yet or who those people will be. Becoming a volunteer presents the opportunity to invest in other people whilst also investing in yourself. When I reflect on all the hardships I endured as a young athlete I wondered if there was any meaning in it, but I have found that meaning over time. Having been in a position where I was close to giving up, I know how it feels to face the fear and uncertainty. Because of that, I have been able to walk with many athletes through that phase of their career and support them to the other side of it. Your offerings as a coach will be based on your skills, talents and life experience; all of those have value and there will be people you help more than you might a