James Joy - Powerlifting Championships

Conwy County athlete selected to represent Wales at the Powerlifting Championships

James Joy, 22, from Penrhyn Bay, will travel to Winnipeg, Canada, this September to compete in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships, following a successful outing at the Welsh Championships in April.

The Ffit Conwy Leisure Assistant discovered his talent for powerlifting whilst taking part in strength sessions as part of his competitive sprint training.  Training before and after work, James quickly developed a passion for the sport. Three years later, he has progressed to international competition.

Powerlifting consists of three maximum-effort lifts in the squat, bench press, and deadlift events. Each type of lift requires three attempts. The most successful lifts for each athlete are added together for a total score, which determines rankings within weight and age categories.

Talking about his training, James said:

“I train at Colwyn Leisure Centre six days a week, with one day rest. I really enjoy it. The lifting platforms at the centre are high spec and great for training. I am now a squat specialist and am aiming for 270kg for this competition.”

James is currently in full training mode ahead of the event on 17–27 September, which will bring together athletes from nations across the Commonwealth.

“I am really proud to be representing Wales. This will be my first event for the country, and I hope there will be more to come!”  James continued.

Mally Tidswell, Head of Section for Conwy Borough Council’s Leisure Service (Ffit Conwy) said:

"We are incredibly proud of James's achievement. His dedication and commitment have been inspiring to see, and everyone at Ffit Conwy wishes him every success as he represents Wales on the international stage."

The championships, which take place from 17–27 September, will be livestreamed online, allowing supporters to follow James's progress from home.