Weightlifting has a long history as a competitive sport, with evidence to suggest that both the Egyptians and Ancient Greeks practiSed with heavy handbags or rocks.

Weightlifting was confined to exhibition and music halls for some time, with the strongmen showcasing their abilities in sometimes bizarre ways – lifting with their hair for example. By the 1860’s, however, Weightlifting had evolved into something akin to the sport thousands of lifters (both men and women) take part in today.

In 1877, the first known organiSed weightlifting competition took place in Vienna and by 1896 the sport had appeared on the Olympic Games roaster. Weightlifting debuted as a Commonwealth Games Sport in 1950.

In Manchester 2002 the Elite Disabled Athletes (EDA) made their mark in the weightlifting event with their medals counting towards the overall medal rally of their country. The Commonwealth Games requires higher qualifying and performance standards.

Kevin Cassar participated in Manchester in the 77kgs class and placed 10th from 14 competitors.

The Malta Weightlifting Federation has nominated Lindsay Borg for the 2006 Commonwealth Games being held in Melbourne, Australia. Lindsay is a 23 year old Maltese/Australian. She has been lifting weights since the age of 14. She held the under 16 Australian records and the New South Wales under 16, 18 and 20 years open records in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total. She placed second in the Australian Championships in 2000. She competed in the Weightlifting Small Nations championships held in Malta in June 2005.

Since her nomination she has been striving hard to achieve her goal in order to represent Malta in the Commonwealth Games. She succeeded in achieving her MSQ specified by the Malta Olympic Committee Executive Council. This led to her acceptance to represent Malta in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Lindsay will be competing in the 75 kgs. Category.

Lindsay said: “I couldn’t ask for a bigger incentive than to represent my home country in front of my friends”.