Cybex International UK announced as Official Equipment Supplier to British Weight Lifting

British Weight Lifting, the national governing body (NGB) for Olympic weightlifting and Paralympic powerlifting, has signed a new long term agreement with premium fitness equipment supplier, Cybex International UK.

Cybex will be the Official Equipment Supplier of British Weight Lifting; providing state-of-the-art strength training equipment for British athletes including current Commonwealth Games champion Zoe Smith, 2015 World Youth Championships silver medallist Rebekah Tiler, Olympian, British and English champion Jack Oliver and 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Ben Watson.

Cybex’s equipment will also be used by British para-powerlifting athletes including IPC World Champion Ali Jawad, Invictus Games gold medallist Micky Yule and four-time Olympian Natalie Blake.

The partnership will be officially launched today (Friday 15 May) at the opening day of BodyPower Expo, as both Cybex and British Weight Lifting continue their longstanding support of the event, which anticipates more than 70,000 visitors through its doors across the next three days.

The British Weight Lifting stand will feature Cybex lifting platforms and racks, which will be used throughout the event as part of demonstrations and coaching sessions featuring international weightlifters and para-powerlifters.

Cybex will also provide training equipment for all British Weight Lifting competitions, including the British Senior Weightlifting and Para-Powerlifting Championships; the sport’s biggest domestic competition taking place on 27-28 June at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

As part of the agreement, all British Weight Lifting athletes and coaches will also have full access to Cybex UK’s HQ gym; the 4500 ft² showcase site in Leicestershire is ideally located close to British Weight Lifting’s high performance centre at Loughborough University and will be made available for athlete training and as a venue for British Weight Lifting courses.

Cybex will also support in the promotion of British Weight Lifting accredited courses and qualifications to its wide network of gyms and training facilities.

In addition, British Weight Lifting will support Cybex in the delivery of its education programme; Cybex will have access to the NGB’s international coaches and athletes to deliver weightlifting courses to Cybex clients nationwide.

Commenting on the new partnership, Ashley Metcalfe, British Weight Lifting CEO, said: "Cybex is a fantastic fit for British Weight Lifting; with the company’s heritage in sports science and extensive experience in professional sport, we know that we are providing our athletes with access to the very best in strength training equipment to enhance their training and performances."

As the industry’s manufacturer of the largest range of strength training equipment, Cybex’s longstanding history in elite sport has seen its equipment used by professional rugby and football clubs, ATP World Tour competitors as well as athletes from professional US leagues and leading collegiate athletic programmes.

Ashley added: "As one of only a few suppliers of IFI accredited equipment, Cybex’s dedication to supporting the delivery of inclusive training facilities and accessibility for disabled athletes is highly commendable and something that we are also very passionate about.

"It’s important that we form relationships with suppliers who believe in and support our aims as an NGB as we focus on growing the sport and in working with Cybex, we know that we have found a partner that will do just that."

Rob Thurston, commercial director for Cybex UK, said: "We are delighted to be named Official Equipment Supplier of British Weight Lifting. Cybex has been a pioneer of strength equipment for many years and our new partnership with the national governing body will help us to continue to educate and increase understanding of the benefits of strength training, whilst simultaneously raising awareness of the sports of weightlifting and para-powerlifting.

"Through our education programme we will also be able to provide our staff and clients with unrivalled access to British Weight Lifting’s expert coaches and international athletes, whose knowledge and experience will be of huge value.

"We are proud to partner with British Weight Lifting and look forward to working together in support of the sport and its athletes."

For more information, contact:

Lauren Chambers

lauren.chambers@110percent.co.uk

+44 (0) 1183 272940

Jonathan Wilson

jonathan.wilson@110percent.co.uk

+44 (0) 1183 272940

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