A COMMONWEALTH Games athlete has praised a Colwyn Bay weightlifter for his display during a high-profile international competition.

Harry Misangyi trains Year 10 Rydal Penrhos School pupil Josh Lynch, and the pair have enjoyed an enormous amount of success in recent months, culminating in the 14-year-old making his Team GB debut at the European Youth Weightlifting Championships in Italy.

Although injury hampered his chances of securing a medal, Misangyi was thrilled with the way Josh overcame adversity to break another Welsh record and become the highest GB finisher at the event.

He said: “Josh put on an outstanding display representing Great Britain at the European Championships in Milan.

“He has been suffering with a small injury over the last three weeks leading into this event, meaning he was unable to train properly like he normally would going to a competition. However this was Josh's biggest one yet so it was important he kept positive more than ever.

“Not only was he struggling with a minor injury in his glute, he also dropped a bar on his elbow two weeks’ prior and ended up in A+E, which nearly put him out all together.

“Josh achieved fifth place in the snatch, lifting 93kg, which is a 10kg Personal Best, and also breaking the Welsh Record again, which might I add Josh has beaten by more than 20kg since he first started.

“Unfortunately then Josh was forced to withdraw from the competition unable to participate in the Clean and Jerk as the injury begun to flare up again. Nonetheless, he done his country proud and placed higher than any other British Athlete at this competition.”

Lynch will now be working hard on getting fully fit again so he can continue his success as part of the Sale Sharks Rugby Player Development programme and RGC West, in addition to his Olympic Weightlifting competitions.