Jersey weightlifter Charlotte Neale to represent Great Britain in world age-group event

301020 - Jersey weightlifter Charlotte Neale - Credit: Grant Neale
Charlotte Neale represented GB for the first time at last year's European Youth Championships in Israel. Credit: Grant Neale

Jersey weightlifter Charlotte Neale will compete on a global stage for the first time next month after being selected to represent Great Britain in the inaugural IWF Online Youth World Cup, which is being held in place of the planned World Youth Championships.

It comes after she secured the British U17 title in the under-55kg category, in a national age-group competition put on remotely earlier this month.

"I was really pleased - I wasn't that surprised, because I already knew I'd qualified from my lifts from the British but it was still an incredible feeling", said Neale, 16.

"To be representing Great Britain, and Jersey as well, is just incredible".

The World Youth Championships, which should have taken place in Peru next month, have been moved online with athletes set to compete from home.

The virtual competition will be held between 11-18 November with member federations permitted to enter one athlete per bodyweight category up to a maximum team size of 20 men and women.

"I don't even know where I'm going to be doing it, I just know that it's going to be live and I'm going to lift what I can and hope for the best", Neale said.

Neale has only been lifting for two years and made her international debut at the European Youth Championships in Israel last year, becoming the first Channel Islander to represent GB in the sport.