Alex Collier – Olympic Weightlifter

Alex Collier was first introduced into weightlifting aged 13, when Mark Clegg from the Olympic Gym in Ashton-under-Lyne came to his High School to introduce Weightlifting to potential young athletes.

Alex enjoyed the sport right from the word go, and Mark recognised that Alex had the potential to be a good weightlifter.  

Mark Clegg on Alex Collier

Alex Collier was picked up in one of our Talent Identification school sessions when he was around 13 years old, He was picked up mainly for his great attitude towards training.

At the time he was playing Rugby and was asked to join our weightlifting team “Olympic Dragons” and was a really dedicated and hard working lad with a really positive mental attitude. 

He eventually decided to drop the rugby and concentrate all his efforts into his lifting and he is now turning all his potential into results with multiple National Records to his name. 

Alex now lifts for “Team Manchester” as well as “World Class Lifting” and is set his sights on competing at Commonwealth Games and Olympics. 

A special mention has to go to his dad Keith who backs him all the way and provides everything he needs to turn his dreams into reality.

Mark Clegg

Alex in his own words:

I’ve only been lifting three and a half years.

NW Counties school champion 2009

British schools champion 2010

Northern schools champion 2010

Northern junior champion 2010

2^nd English senior championship 2011, youngest lifter in the competition.

2^nd Tri-nations competition in Norway February 2011.

Since Dec 2010 I have broken 10 British Records.

This year I want to go to the European U17’s championship in Poland and would like to try and qualify for the youth world championships in Peru. 105kg Snatch and 130 kg clean and jerk in the 69kg bodyweight class

Alex then joined the Olympic Dragons weightlifting team at the Olympic Gym. Mark entered Alex into his first competition which was the British Schools U13 Championship where Alex came first.

Alex has gone from strength to strength in the sport of weightlifting by sheer determination in his training and working extremely hard on his techniques.

Alex is now on the Great British Squad and at present is Britains U17 Champion and British record holder for his weight category.

Alex has great admiration for Mark Clegg from the Olympic Gym for introducing him to the sport and where he still trains there to this day.

Alex Collier and Shaun Clegg

©MickClegg2011