South African weightlifter Laryne Jefferies finishes fifth and qualifies for worlds

South African weightlifter Laryne Jefferies has returned from India with renewed determination.

She competed at the Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad, one of the official qualifiers for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Jefferies, who took part in the fiercely contested women’s U69kg category, placed fifth overall and achieved a personal milestone by setting three new South African records.

She lifted 91kg in the snatch, 112kg in the clean and jerk, and achieved a 203kg total.

Her performance also secured her long-awaited Worlds qualifying total, a goal she has been working towards for the past two years.

Reflecting on the experience, Jefferies described the electrifying atmosphere of walking onto a lit stage, facing cameras, and focusing solely on the barbell and judges.

“You have only a few seconds to make months and hours of training count,” she said.

“I quietly remind myself that I do this every day, trust my preparation, take a breath, and lift. The rush of emotion when the buzzer sounds and the crowd cheers is hard to describe.”

South Africa sent a team of 17 athletes across various weight classes to the championships.

Jefferies travelled with her coach, Matthew Hurn, arriving three days before the event to acclimatise and prepare.
Over her career, she has competed in several categories, including F64, F71, F76, and now F69, and she has national records in the F71 and F76 divisions.

Her achievements were made possible through the support of her community, with crowdfunding helping to cover the costs of the trip.

“I am incredibly grateful for the support I received in making this dream possible.

“I also hope to inspire young lifters and athletes to pursue their dreams, no matter how big they are,” she said.

Jefferies now has her sights set on Nations in November, followed by the African Senior Championship in Cameroon in 2026, another crucial qualifier for the Commonwealth Games.

With her steady climb up the Commonwealth leaderboard, she is determined to push her competition totals further and hopes to secure a medal at the continental event.

Training at Movement Crew CrossFit in Mulbarton, Jefferies invites anyone curious about weightlifting to come and see what the sport is about.

She emphasises that her journey remains largely self-funded and continues to welcome support.

“There are 18 qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games, but as these competitions are mostly self-funded, I only plan to do the two compulsory events. Support is always greatly appreciated, and I am happy to share how people can help me get closer to making this dream possible.

Supporters can follow her journey and progress via her Instagram profile @larynejefferies.