Big weights, big lifts and big emotions are on show as the Commonwealth’s strongest men and women compete across various weight categories.
When it comes to securing medals, every lift counts, and the scoreboard becomes a tactical race for gold. Athletes compete in two disciplines — the snatch and the clean and jerk — and perform three lifts in each.
The snatch sees the lifter pick up the barbell with a wide grip and raise it overhead in one fluid motion.
In the clean and jerk, the lifter first brings the bar to their chest (clean), pauses, then drives it overhead (jerk) with locked elbows. They must hold it steady until the buzzer sounds. Lifters get three snatch attempts and three clean and jerk attempts.
Weights increase throughout the competition, and athletes must tactically select which attempts to go for. The combined total of each lifter’s best snatch and best clean and jerk determines the winner.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
Meet The Team
Nine weightlifters have been selected to represent Team Scotland at the upcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The squad combines Commonwealth Games experience with an exciting group of debutants and includes four reigning British champions, underlining the strength and depth of Scottish weightlifting ahead of the home Games. Among those selected are newly-crowned British champions Alex Mackay, Madeline Rosher, Angus Doig and Drew Burns. Agata Herbert is the sole returning athlete from Birmingham 2022, where she placed 7th in the women’s 76kg event, and she is keen to bring that valuable Games experience to a team that includes eight athletes set to make their Games debut. She said: “I’m really proud to be named in the Team Scotland squad for Glasgow 2026 and to be heading to my second Commonwealth Games. “Birmingham was an incredible experience and something I’ll never forget. It’s great knowing I can go into these Games with that experience behind me and I want to enjoy every moment of it. “I’ve worked hard to get back to this stage and I’m very excited about the prospect of representing Team Scotland at a home Games next month.” 2026 British champions Alex Mackay and Madeline Rosher alongside Beth Ashbee, British silver medallist in 2025, are selected in a strong women’s squad. All are seasoned Scotland representatives, including at World and European Championships. Alongside current British champions Angus Doig and Drew Burns the men’s line-up features last year’s British Championships silver medallist Iain Wilson, 19-year –old Corey Duncan, who holds all Scottish records in his weight class and has represented GB at European and World Junior Championships, and Tom Wright who, despite only making the switch from CrossFit to weightlifting two years ago, has already tasted medal success at the British Championships and represented Scotland on the World and European stage. Team Scotland’s Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss MBE, said: “I am delighted to welcome these athletes to Team Scotland for a home Games this summer. “To compete at a Commonwealth Games is special, but to do so in front of a home crowd in Glasgow will make it even more memorable. I am confident our weightlifting team will embrace the occasion and represent Scotland with pride both on and off the platform.” The weightlifting competition takes place from 26 July – 30 July at the SEC Centre. Tickets for Glasgow 2026 can be purchased at glasgow2026.com. Selected athletes: Alex Mackay – Women's 48kg Beth Ashbee – Women's 63kg Madeline Rosher – Women's 69kg Agata Herbert – Women's 77kg Corey Duncan – Men's 71kg Iain Wilson – Men's 79kg Angus Doig – Men's 88kg Tom Wright – Men's 94kg Drew Burns – Men's 110kg
Iain Wilson
Men's 79kg
Tom Wright
Men's 94kg
Drew Burns
Men's 110kg
Madeline Rosher
Women's 69kg
Alex Mackay
Women's 48kg
Angus Doig
Men's 88kg
Corey Duncan
Men's 71kg
Agata Herbert
Women's 77kg
