Strathaven weightlifter Jodey Hughes says her dedication to coaching via the chilly, darkish winters throughout the pandemic has paid off with a spot at this summer season’s Commonwealth Video games.
The 39-year-old civil servant made her Video games debut on Australia’s Gold Coast 4 years in the past when she completed ninth within the 58kg class and can now compete in Birmingham at 55kgs
Her inclusion in Workforce Scotland was introduced final week and Hughes is over the moon to be heading to her second Commonwealth Video games – one thing she by no means dreamed was doable when Covid hit two years in the past
She defined: “I can’t imagine it has occurred. I discovered eight weeks in the past however I couldn’t inform anybody as a result of we needed to look forward to the massive announcement.
“It’s simply beginning to really feel actual now. It’s been actually exhausting to coach over the winter as a result of it’s so darkish exterior and you might be coaching in a chilly, moist fitness center.
“However now summer season is coming and the Video games are coming it simply feels actually pretty.
“There have been instances once I thought this wasn’t going to occur and instances the place I felt I wasn’t making any progress. Particularly throughout Covid, the place I used to be working loopy hours supporting a variety of the Covid schemes with HMRC.
“I’d be doing lengthy hours after which going into my chilly fitness center to attempt to prepare. We didn’t understand how lengthy restrictions have been going to be in place and there have been no instant objectives to work in the direction of. I hated coaching over that interval, all on my own.
“However I didn’t cease and though I hated it, that consistency of the coaching has helped get me right here.”
A silver medallist on the British Championships earlier this 12 months, Hughes is hoping so as to add a medal on the showpiece occasion in July, in addition to making an attempt a double body weight clear and jerk.
She added: “I obtained silver on the British Championships and I obtained silver there the 12 months earlier than Covid as effectively, so I’ve obtained a little bit of a development occurring there.
“Something can occur. A medal is a sensible purpose. My different is to try the double body weight clear and jerk, as not many individuals are able to that.”
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