Canadian Weightlifting Team Named for 2022 Commonwealth Games

14 athletes chosen to represent Canada, including Olympic and Commonwealth Champion Maude Charron

OTTAWA - (2022 - 03 - 24) - Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) and Weightlifting Canada Haltérophilie (WCH) today announced the athletes who have been selected to represent Team Canada in weightlifting at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England taking place July 28 to August 8, 2022.

“Weightlifting Canada Haltérophilie is proud to have such a dynamic group of athletes representing Canada for the Commonwealth Games. This team has shown remarkable resilience and focus over the past two years in challenging conditions to earn its spot at the Games. If they keep that focus, they’ll find success in Birmingham.” remarked Craig Walker, President of WCH.

The 14 athletes have been named based on international rankings which required that they place within the top 10 of the Commonwealth. Athletes earned their place on Team Canada through a grueling series of competitions from Tokyo to Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Toronto over the past year. This team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games boasts all five Olympians from the Tokyo 2020 squad, including Olympic and Commonwealth Champion Maude Charron and Boady Santavy, who earned a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. 

"As the first crop of athletes to be named to Team Canada for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, it is only fitting that the athletes be a stellar mix of champions, Olympians and rising stars,” says Scott Stevenson, Executive Director, Team Canada 2022 (Birmingham). “With Canada having won 106 medals in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games including five medals at the most recent 2018 Commonwealth Games, we anticipate great results from this newly named team.”

The women’s team has qualified athletes in each of the eight available weight categories.  The men’s team has qualified six athletes for these Commonwealth Games. 

WCH is aiming for four to six medals at these Commonwealth Games, including three gold. Team Canada earned five medals, with one gold, at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, placing fifth overall in the team standings. 

The team will participate at a pre-Games training camp in Sweden in early June.  This is a unique opportunity for the athletes to train alongside their teammates before a Major Games and focus on positive outcomes.

The weightlifting competition will take place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham July 30 – Aug. 3 with 16 medal events across eight men’s and eight women’s weight categories.

Birmingham 2022 will feature 19 sports and eight para-sports as part of its program with up to 4,500 athletes taking part. The Commonwealth Games are the only multi-sport event that feature equal standing for sport and para-sport events, and these 2022 Games will showcase the largest para-sport program ever. In addition, for the first time in its history, the Games will feature more medal events for women (135) than men (133).

The weightlifting team which will represent Canada at the Birmingham 2022 includes:

ABOUT TEAM CANADA 2022

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be host to 71 participating nations and territories taking part in the Games. The Commonwealth Games are a valuable opportunity as a steppingstone and development opportunity for Canadian athletes, coaches, and managers working towards Olympic and Paralympic success. Canada’s performance projection in 2022 is a top 3 ranking, in total medals, amongst all nations and territories competing. Commonwealth athletes won 80%+ of Canada's medals at the 2020 Olympic Games

Team Canada’s dedicated mission team will provide an optimal environment by celebrating equality, diversity, and non-discrimination. This is in support of our goals needed to enable a best ever performance by Canadian athletes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

ABOUT WEIGHTLIFTING CANADA HALTÉROPHILIE

Weightlifting Canada Haltérophilie is the governing body for the sport of Olympic weightlifting in Canada. Formed in 1960 and incorporated as a Not-for-Profit in 1974, WCH has seen tremendous growth in the sport. WCH is dedicated to the promotion and development of Olympic Weightlifting in Canada. We will do so in a spirit of equity and fair play, while at the same time encouraging a fit for life philosophy.

ABOUT COMMONWEALTH SPORT CANADA

Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth sport movement in Canada. CSC is an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community and supports Canada’s athletes to achieve excellence at Olympic, Paralympic Games, and world championships. The mission of CSC is to enrich the lives of youth across the Commonwealth and host the Commonwealth Games. CSC is responsible for all aspects of Canada’s participation in the XXII Commonwealth Games and will be sending a team of almost 400 of Canada’s best athletes and coaches to compete for Canada. The upcoming Games will occur in Birmingham, England from July 28 through to August 8, 2022. For additional information go to: www.commonwealthsport.ca.

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