We are overwhelmed with pride as Lily Smalley has received a call-up to represent England at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in October 2024.
Lily, 20, only started powerlifting in September 2023 and has taken the sport by storm, culminating in a third-place finish at the English Powerlifting Championships in June 2024.
As a result, she has now received an invitation to travel with the England squad to Sun City, South Africa in October and will compete as a reserve at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships, representing the nation on the World stage.
Lily, the legal professional
When she’s not lifting, Lily is a full-time member of our Trusts & Estates team and we have been proud to support her efforts so far via sponsorship, as her powerlifting has been entirely self-funded to date.
She is hoping to use her platform and her accomplishments so far to inspire others to try the sport:
“When I started a demanding career in law, I knew that I had to find a hobby to help me balance personal and professional and to give myself something to dedicate myself to outside of work.
I had competed as a gymnast for 10 years so commitment to an intense training schedule felt natural and I found a love for powerlifting, due to both the physical and mental growth I quickly saw in myself as a result of it.
It’s a privilege to have been called up to the England team and still feels incredibly surreal, so I’ll be doing all I can to make the most of the experience and hopefully inspire other young women to try the sport.”
Lily is also beginning to attract a following on social media and has encouraged anyone interested in learning more about powerlifting as a beginner, to follow her Instagram page for regular updates.
The Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships will take place in Sun City, South Africa from the 4th-11th October and we’ll be cheering Lily on, every step of the way!