AWPC World Championships 2024 – GB won!

The AWPC World Championships had a team of 151 British qualified, class placing top level lifters and the biggest team we have ever taken to an international championships. They had all either placed in their class at the A/BPU Single Lift or Full Power British Championships or been the previous year’s AWPC World Championships 2023 winner in Baton Rougue, Louisianna.

Limerick, Ireland was the place and the venue at the Castletroy Hotel which was outstanding venue Shane Brodie always seems to out-trump me on flaming venues! Lots of room, very luxurious and the set up was exceptional. There were many other countries with teams which frankly in the last few years is a great improvement and the AWPC is really growing across to many other countries, giving our lifters in the UK now something to really have to compete for. 5 days of full on competition.

The hotel and competition area was buzzing – I mean absolutely packed. The warm up and holding area constantly full and our lifters as they have all of this at the British Championships which is 7/8 days and 500 lifters, were incredibly laid back, mainly as they were used to it. For some of the other countries, they were not, so a full on busy international comp was a shock for some of them.

Even though the stress and pressure of World Championships is a lot to deal with, our lifters took pretty much everything in their stride including some last minute changes and I couldnt have been more proud. At international, no matter what happens, it all comes down to how you handle it and the responsibility for that is on you the lifter – and the team took it all on board. Things are different. Environment, routine, equipment, layout, schedule and running times and announcements. All of it you have to navigate and learn and THAT is what makes you improve. It isnt just what you do on platform, it is how you respond to the environment that impacts on your lifting that makes you a well rounded international and formidable competitor. It is also what will create the difference between you and your arch enemy on platform – your ability to adapt will influence what happens on platform.

The previous paragraph is making the overall point that our team took so much in their stride and excelled. Lifter after lifter got PBs, won their class, had full on head to heads ending with the same exact bodyweight and having to be re-weighed and some real battles on platform. The Irish team gave our guys a real run for their money as well.

The crew at the Worlds was fantastic. The spotting and loading crew were great and included some of our own lifters as well which meant our lifters had a few familiar faces on platform. A really professional and slick run competition.

The only problem for me was having so many of our team in a confined space so I got competely “peopled” any time I was off platform from refereeing. Honestly though – I wouldnt change that, not for a moment even though in that moment I just wanted a small dark cupboard to rock in.

Team GB took the overal country trophy – all of us. All of those lifters who qualified through placing at our hard to qualify for British, all of those who made it through winning worlds in the 2023 and very few who didnt place even got a look in! The team earned the trophy in more ways than just platform results.

For the full results please nip over here: Competition Results 2013 to 2024