| www.winkball.com British Weightlifter, Zoe Smith, is looking forward to London 2012 more than most, as she is one of the Team GB members competing in their hometown. We may not have had her competing in weightlifting, were it not for a chance call-up. Aged 12, Smith was originally a gymnast -- at the Europa gym in Erith, Kent -- but she was asked to make up the numbers in a weightlifting competition by coach, Andrew Callard, who trained the lifters at the same venue where she practiced gymnastics. Smith took to it pretty naturally and was a more promising lifter than gymnast, so set her athletic journey on that path. Only four years later, Smith was a bronze medalist in the 58kg division at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Not only was this her first senior international competition but it also made her the first Englishwoman to win a Commonwealth medal for weightlifting. Having spent just over a year competing in the women's 63kg weight category -- the next category up -- she is now, in February 2012, looking to slim back down to compete in the 58kg weight category again, where she was so successful a couple of years ago. Despite setting personal bests and breaking British records at the 63kg weight, it makes more sense for Smith to compete in 2012 at 58kg as the A standard is easier to achieve. Visit us: FaceBook: www.facebook.com Twitter: @WinkBallSport |
