Laycee discovered her passion for weightlifting at just 10 years old, initially practising with a simple broom handle. She was inspired by watching her nan train at a local gym before the 2020 lockdown.

During the lockdown, Laycee continued to develop her skills at home, perfecting Olympic weightlifting techniques with the broom handle. As her confidence grew, she progressed to using a real barbell and weights, dedicating more and more time to training.

Laycee shared, “I entered my first local competition at Pantheon Gym in Plymouth. Since then, I have travelled around the country competing, and I won my first gold medal at Wildboar Gym in Lydney in 2023.”

In February 2024, Laycee achieved her first national success by coaching herself to second place in the Under-15 English Championship at just 13 years old.

Now, Laycee is coached by Olympic medallist and Commonwealth champion Emily Muskett, along with Ollie White. She trains three to four times a week in Newton Abbot, as well as at Vision Gym, where she receives invaluable support and nutrition advice from gym owners Jake Miller and Chey Bryce. She also benefits from regular physiotherapy with Tara Marsden and Jade Jonson.

“In March 2025, I dropped to a lower weight category and competed in the Under-15 64kg class, winning the gold medal and becoming English Champion in Birmingham,” Laycee said. “I also achieved two personal bests with a total lift of 107kg, performing the Snatch and Clean and Jerk.”

Laycee is now training hard for her second British Championship, which takes place this September.

She added, “My family and I are really proud of how far I have come in this sport. I have a strong passion for weightlifting and hope to one day introduce Olympic weightlifting to local young people.”

Well done, Laycee — we can’t wait to see what you achieve next!