WATCH: Preston weightlifter Sarah Davies overwhelmed with Commonwealth Games silver medal

Sarah Davies would have loved a Commonwealth gold medal on Sunday but admitted that for the sake of her relationship it was probably best she had to settle for a weightlifting silver in the end.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Apr 2018, 10:31 BST
Updated 9th Apr 2018, 11:36 BST
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The 25-year-old finished in second spot on the podium in the Gold Coast in the women’s -69kg weightlifting – combining for 217kg in her snatch and clean and jerk.

That was just five kg behind the eventual winner Punam Yadav from India.

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But just 24 hours after her boyfriend, teammate and coach Jack Oliver took a silver of his own in the men’s event – there was a pleasing symmetry to their achievements.

England's Sarah Davies competes in women's 69Kg weightlifting final at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, AustraliaEngland's Sarah Davies competes in women's 69Kg weightlifting final at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia
England's Sarah Davies competes in women's 69Kg weightlifting final at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia

“I am overwhelmed, happy, speechless maybe,” she said.

“Jack would have been quite upset if I had got that gold, but I couldn’t have him beating me so at least we match. He is proud of me, as you would expect.

“I think for the sake of our relationship in the future it is probably important that we both got silver – maybe I missed that last lift on purpose!”

A former Miss Leeds beauty queen, Davies used to train as a gymnast until Oliver introduced her to lifting in 2011.

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Just three years later and Davies attended her first Commonwealth Games, finishing an impressive seventh place at Glasgow 2014.

But her final attempt at a 128kg clean and jerk proved beyond her on the Gold Coast as she tried to close the gap to Yadav.

“I have only ever done 121 in competition so to put seven kgs on the bar was a challenge but it was not meant to be today,” she added.

“If someone had told me this morning that I would get a silver medal I would have been happy.

Sarah Davies celebrates winning Commonwealth Games silver.Sarah Davies celebrates winning Commonwealth Games silver.
Sarah Davies celebrates winning Commonwealth Games silver.
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“It couldn’t really have gone much better, I tried it and gave it my all so I am happy.

“The crowd were amazing, I just had to keep grafting, I was going dizzy and seeing stars.

“It was nearly there, just millimetres of misdirection, but this isn’t my weight class and selection meant I came up.

“So to medal in a division I wasn’t in 12 weeks ago, I can’t ask for much more than that.”

England's Sarah Davies competes in women's 69Kg weightlifting final at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, AustraliaEngland's Sarah Davies competes in women's 69Kg weightlifting final at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia
England's Sarah Davies competes in women's 69Kg weightlifting final at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia
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Davies has also finished sixth in the world championships last year and has already turned her attentions to the future.

“Birmingham for a home games in four years time will be unreal so I am definitely going to be there,” she added.

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Related topics:PrestonIndia