Thanks to National Lottery players, Weightlifting Wales has been awarded support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an exciting new two-year project that will capture, preserve and celebrate the history of Weightlifting in Wales.

The project, Strength & Legacy: Capturing the Living History of Weightlifting Wales, has been made possible through a grant of £109,500 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It will record the stories, experiences and achievements of the people who have shaped the sport over generations, ensuring this important heritage is preserved for the future.

The project will create a dedicated Project Oral Historian / Heritage Officer role to lead delivery, supported by specialist freelance expertise in digitisation and digital media. Together, they will work with clubs, volunteers and communities across Wales to capture oral histories, preserve memorabilia and create a lasting digital archive for future generations.

The project will also provide opportunities for volunteers to support research, interviews, digitisation and community engagement, helping to ensure the heritage of Welsh Weightlifting is preserved by the community, for the community.

The project will include oral history interviews with former athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers from across Wales, alongside the digitisation of photographs, medals, programmes, documents and other memorabilia. Interviews will be recorded in both Welsh and English where appropriate, ensuring the heritage of the sport is captured and shared as widely as possible. Community exhibitions, digital resources and outreach activity will help make this history accessible to both the Weightlifting community and the wider public.

Over the past decade, Weightlifting Wales has strengthened its governance and organisational foundations as the National Governing Body for the sport in Wales. However, much of the sport's earlier history remains undocumented, with many stories, achievements and memories held only by those who lived them. This project provides a unique opportunity to ensure that history is not lost.

The project represents one of the most significant heritage initiatives ever undertaken by Weightlifting Wales and will ensure the stories of those who shaped the sport are preserved and shared for generations to come.

Alongside preserving the past, the project will also create opportunities to reconnect former members of the Weightlifting community. Through future events and activities, previous athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers will be invited to reconnect with one another, share their experiences with today's members and help inspire future generations.

Andrew White, Director for Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

"Weightlifting has played an important role in communities across Wales for generations, inspiring people through sport, dedication and achievement. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will help capture and preserve the stories, memories and experiences of the people who have shaped the history of Welsh weightlifting.”

Simon Roach, Chief Operating Officer of Weightlifting Wales, said:

"This is a hugely exciting project for Weightlifting Wales and one that has been close to my heart for some time. Weightlifting in Wales has a rich history, but much of it has never been formally recorded. We now have an incredible opportunity to capture those stories, preserve photographs and memorabilia, and recognise the people who helped build our sport.

I'm particularly looking forward to reconnecting with former athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers over the next two years. As well as preserving our history, this project gives us a wonderful opportunity to bring generations of the Weightlifting community back together, strengthening those connections and inspiring the next generation of athletes, coaches and volunteers."

 

Help us preserve the history of Welsh weightlifting

Whether you are a former athlete, coach, official, volunteer or supporter, or have photographs, programmes, medals, memorabilia or stories to share, we'd love to hear from you. Further details on how to get involved will be announced over the coming months.

Weightlifting Wales would like to thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.