James Wales delivered an outstanding performance on his Commonwealth Games debut, securing an impressive fourth-place finish in the men's +110kg competition as the conclusion of the weightlifting at Glasgow 2026 took place on Thursday evening (30 July). 

Representing Team Wales on one of the biggest stages in international weightlifting, James produced a composed series of lifts against a world-class field. Starting off with commanding initial lifts in the snatch of 140kg, and 145kg, this saw James jump to 150kg for his final snatch attempt which proved unsuccessful and placed joint 4th at the half way point of the competition. Moving on to the clean and jerk, and after two failed lifts on his first two attempts it went down to a 191kg personal best attempt to save his competition and gain 4th place. Following a huge noise of support from the packed crowd inside the venue as James stepped up to the platform, James managed to produce both the clean and jerk perfectly to the huge delight of everyone in the arena, and a great show of emotion from James himself.

His determination and consistency throughout the Games earned him a place just outside the medals, highlighting his continued progression at international level. James performance at Glasgow was the culmination of dedicated preparation and professionalism in recent years from his relatively short time frame in the sport, following a successful qualification period that included personal best performances at both the recent European and British Championships.

Reflecting on the result at the Games for James, a top four finish on his first Commonwealth Games appearance represents a significant milestone and valuable experience that will stand him in good stead for such future occasions. The brilliant atmosphere inside the venue at the SEC Armadillo reflected the occasion of the high quality lifting on show. Competing in this environment provided invaluable experience for James, who demonstrated the resilience and desire required for at elite international level.

Everyone at Weightlifting Wales congratulates James on an excellent Commonwealth Games debut. His commitment, work ethic and determination have been evident throughout his preparation, and his performance in Glasgow is one to be proud of. 

As James looks ahead to the next stage of his weightlifting career, his performances throughout 2026 have demonstrated significant progress and provide a strong platform for future success. We look forward to seeing James build on this success as he look to continue on his journey representing Wales on the international stage.