Weightlifting Wales was immensely proud to hear the news and celebrate the achievements of Llanelli Weightlifting Club and their head coach, Matthew De Filippo, who were both recognised at last month's Actif Carmarthenshire Sports Awards 2024. The awards ceremony highlighted outstanding contributions to local sport across the south-west Welsh county of Carmarthenshire, which comprised of both individual and organisational awards.​

Coach of the Year: Matthew De Filippo (winner)

Matthew De Filippo was honoured as being chosen as the winner 'Community Sports Coach of the Year' award, for his amazing voluntary work with para-powerlifting and weightlifting across Llanelli Weightlifting Club, whilst also giving over 370 young people the opportunity to try weightlifting through Weightlifting Wales' Raise the Bar programme. This accolade reflects his unwavering dedication to the sport of weightlifting and his instrumental role in nurturing talent within the local community. His coaching philosophy prioritises both technical excellence and athlete well-being, ensuring that each individual reaches their personal best while developing a lifelong passion for the sport. 

Matthew has played a pivotal role in expanding weightlifting participation in Wales, working closely with Weightlifting Wales initiatives such as the Raise the Bar programme, to support talent identification, coaching education, and community engagement. His recognition reinforces the impact that high-quality coaching has on athlete success and long-term engagement in the sport. As a result of this, Matthew's commitment has significantly contributed to the development and success of numerous athletes under his guidance on a national and international level as well.

Community Sports Club of the Year: Llanelli Weightlifting Club (runners-up)

Llanelli Weightlifting Club was recognised as the runner-up in the 'Community Sports Club of the Year' category. This acknowledgment underscores the club's exceptional efforts in promoting weightlifting and fostering a supportive environment for athletes of all levels. The club's initiatives have been pivotal in encouraging community participation and elevating the sport's profile within the region.

As a long-standing Weightlifting Wales licensed club, Llanelli Weightlifting Academy has been at the heart of developing Welsh weightlifters. Their commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and high-performance environment was deservedly acknowledged, as recognition for the club’s sustained efforts in growing the sport and ensuring that weightlifting continues to thrive in Wales. 

Weightlifting Wales, as the national governing body for the sport, has long championed the incredible work of its affiliated clubs and dedicated coaches. Llanelli Weightlifting Club and Matthew's achievements at the Actif Carmarthenshire Sports Awards are a testament to the hard work of the club’s lifters, volunteers, and coaches in promoting the sport. Their recognition at such a prestigious local awards event helps to further weightlifting’s profile within the wider sporting community and encourages continued investment and participation at a grassroots level. These success stories serve as an inspiration for other clubs, athletes, and coaches to continue striving for excellence. Weightlifting Wales is incredibly proud to see it's licensed clubs and affiliated coaches acknowledged for their contributions, and looks forward to seeing such continued development in the years to come.

Congratulations to Llanelli Weightlifting Club and Head Coach Matthew De Filippo on this well-deserved recognition!