Commonwealth champion Charron sets sights on Glasgow 2026 after World silver
Olympic gold medallist Maude Charron (CAN) was among a host of Commonwealth Games champions who continued their build up to Glasgow 2026 with impressive performances at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Førde, Norway.
The 10-day-event, which ran from 2-11 October, saw Commonwealth contenders seek not only podium places, but also overall totals which would assist their respective qualification bids for next year’s Games.
Charron, who has claimed gold at each of the last two Commonwealth Games for Canada, had considered her future in the sport after placing second at Paris 2024.
The Tokyo 2020 champion weightlifter remains unsure about LA 2028, but made a commitment to Glasgow 2026 after securing her place at the Games via her Commonwealth Championships victory in Ahmedabad, India, last month.
Despite time away from the sport – to take part in gymnastics, mountain biking and rock climbing – and struggling “motivation” challenges over the last 12 month, the 32-year-old won silver at Førde 2025.
“I knew I wasn’t coming here at my best shape,” Charron admitted. “I have competed a month ago in India, the Olympics were a little over than a year ago and I don’t train as much as I used to. Nothing is perfect, but nothing is stopping you to do your best and be surprised.
Charron continued; “Going to the Commonwealth Games was already a goal for me even before Paris. I’m very much looking forward to visiting more of Scotland.”
India is one of the all-time strongest Commonwealth Games performers in the sport of Weightlifting, with the nation currently second on the overall standings, behind Australia, with a total of 113 honours, 46 gold.
They will again be expected to land several major titles come Glasgow 2026 and in Mirabai Chanu (IND) they have a serial podium finisher who looks well-placed to challenge for another title next year.
The 31-year-old won silver at Glasgow 2014, before securing her maiden Commonwealth Games crown at Gold Coast 2018. She then backed that up with a further gold at Birmingham 2022 and will head into next year’s event as the number one seed after claiming World silver.
Rafiatu Lawal (NIG), who won the 59kg Commonwealth Games title at Birmingham 2022, placed fifth at the Paris 2024 and was Nigeria’s sole representative at the 2025 World Championships.
If there was pressure on the weightlifter to perform, she showed few signs, delivering a high-class performance, which took a world record total from Kim Il-gyong (PRK) to beat her.
Lawal’s achievement drew high-praise from leading sports officials in her homeland, with National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko describing the latest medal a “proud moment for Nigeria.”
“(It is) a shining example of what dedication, resilience and hard work can achieve,” they said.
Eileen Cikamatana (AUS) made history at Birmingham 2022, by winning the 87kg Commonwealth Games title for Australia. four years after securing the 90kg title for the country of her birth, Fiji.
Having attained Australian residency and then citizenship, via a ‘distinguished talent visa’ in 2019, she then had to wait for international clearance to compete for her new nation and was ineligible for Tokyo 2020.
Cikamatana won World silver, in early 2022, in her first major event for Australia, before her success at Birmingham 2022 five months later.
She placed fourth at Paris 2024, but bronze at the 2025 edition of the World Championships suggests the 26-year-old will again be the one to beat in the 86kg division, come Glasgow 2026.
England’s Commonwealth champion and Glasgow 2026 Athlete Ambassador Emily Campbell, who was representing Great Britain in Norway, finished fourth, just one kilogram short of the overall podium places, in the Women’s +86kg division.
The two-time World medallist subsequently revealed she had been diagnosed with a quadricep tear three weeks ago and advised not to compete at the event.
“My body is in pain but I’m feeling very grateful,” Campbell stated on social media.
“My team worked their backsides off to get me pain free and doing something with a hope I could get on stage. A rescan 10 days out showed it had started to heal but still had oedema (bleeding) and a haematoma.
“Advice wasn’t to lift but I’d worked so hard after the knee surgery I couldn’t just give up, so I fought like hell!! 4th in the World, 1kg of the podium and number one in the Commonwealth rankings, definitely could of been worse.”
While there were no medals for Glasgow 2026 host nation Scotland either, their 12-strong squad delivered a host of impressive performances.
Agata Herbert, Maddie Rosher and Angus Doig all secured the totals, in their respective divisions, which will put them in contention for Commonwealth Games selection.
“Winner, winner, chicken dinner,” architect turned weightlifter Herbert posted on social media after her performance in the Women’s 77kg division. “Commonwealth Games — here we come.”
By Nick Hope, Glasgow 2026 Content Creator
