Raymond Williams struck gold at the 1986 Commonwealth games, and returned for more in 2002.
He started off his sporting career as a gymnast, but was introduced to the world of weightlifting by his physical education teacher at Holyhead High, Rob Wrench, who won a bronze medal in the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth games. Although there wasn't much equipment for weightlifting training in North Wales at the time, Rob Wrench did ensure that Raymond's school had a few Olympic weightlifting bars for their use.
In 1977, Raymond was placed in the top ten at the Junior weightlifting championships in Sophia, Bulgaria, and was voted the young Welsh sports personality of the year. The award was presented to him by footballer John Toshack and Raymond remembers himself being only about 5'2", and John being extremely tall!
He joined the army in 1979 and drifted away from the sport for a while, before returning to win the Welsh title in 1983 and the Celtic Nations championship in 1984.
Raymond's greatest achievement of his career was winning gold at the 1986 Commonwealth games in Edinburgh. He says: "It's hard to really compete against the Russians and Bulgarians, to the Commonwealth games are like the western world's weightlifting Olympics. When you actually win, you're so psyched up, it overtakes you. I was still on an adrenalin high when I received my gold medal! Winning's like good wine - I can still remember the day vividly. After all the hard work in my sporting career, it was the icing on the cake."
Raymond came fourth in the New Zealand games of 1990, and retired from the sport to continue his 24 year career in the army, which took him all around the world. However, he was lured out of retirement in 2002 when the Commonwealth games came to Manchester. Being 17 years older than the other competitors, he equalled the world veteran record, held by a Russian in the 40 to 45 class.
In January 2003, Raymond Williams retired from the army and returned to Anglesey to coach local young weightlifters and work with the Sports Council for Wales. He took eight weightlifters from NW Wales to the Welsh championships in Cardiff, and returned with five gold, two silver and a bronze. He will also be taking the Welsh team to the Small Nations games in Malta, which will include local weightlifters Andrew Goswell and Gareth Evans.
Commonwealth gold medalist in weightlifting.
