Jersey weightlifter Dodds seventh in 110kg class

Olly Dodds has become the first weightlifter from Jersey to compete at a Commonwealth Games in 64 years.

The 25-year-old finished seventh in the 110kg class having been awarded an invite to compete at Glasgow 2026 after initially failing to qualify for the event.

In doing so he became the first weightlifter to represent Jersey at the Commonwealth Games since Cliff Heuze in the 60kg class at the 1962 Games in Perth.

In the snatch Dodds failed his first attempt at 115kg but recovered to lift it at the second time of asking before moving up to lift 120kg with his final attempt.

Despite starting at the lowest weight he ended the snatch in ninth place out of 11 competitors as two of his rivals failed to register a successful lift at heavier weights.

He went on to lift 140kg in the clean and jerk but the jury overruled what he thought was a successful first attempt after replays showed a bend in his right elbow.

Dodds was successful with his second attempt before failing at 145kg to end with a combined score of 260kg.

With Australia’s Ridge Barredo and Samaoa’s Jack Hitila Opeloge failing to register a clean and jerk, Dodds moved up to seventh place as Fiji’s Taniela Tuisuva Rainibogi set new Games records in both disciplines to take gold with a combined record of 378kg.