Harrogate para powerlifter Lottie McGuinness will represent England at the Commonwealth Games today (Friday) as she looks to make a winning start on her Games debut.
The 24-year-old is one of seven para powerlifters selected for Team England and will compete in the Women's Lightweight event, one of the first medal events of the Games.
Unlike the Paralympics, the Commonwealth Games features just four para powerlifting medal events. Athletes compete in a single bench press discipline, with results adjusted using a coefficient system to ensure fair competition across the weight category.
Lottie heads into the competition after narrowly missing out on a medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where she finished fourth in the women's up to 55kg event.
She said:
"I’m going to visualise it [winning a medal]. You’ve got to believe it to achieve it."
Speaking ahead of today's competition, Lottie said representing England in Glasgow means more than simply competing.
She said:
"I'm most looking forward to stepping onto the platform in an England vest and competing alongside some of the best athletes in the Commonwealth.
"It's such a privilege to represent your country, and I'm excited to soak up the atmosphere, share the experience with my teammates, and hopefully make everyone who has supported me proud.
"I'm also looking forward to competing in front of my loved ones. It will mean so much to see them in the audience in Glasgow."
The Harrogate athlete first took up para powerlifting in 2019 after previously competing as a para swimmer.
Since then, Lottie has established herself among Britain's leading lifters, breaking the British under-61kg record with a lift of 110kg in 2025.
Lottie attended Harrogate Ladies' College before studying Sport and Exercise Science at Leeds Trinity University.
Alongside her sporting career, she has also worked part-time for the NHS.
She will be hoping to cap her Commonwealth Games debut with a medal when she takes to the platform for England this afternoon.
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