Glasgow, Scotland – As the 2026 Commonwealth Games weightlifting competition nears its conclusion, the narrative for Team South Africa remains one of unyielding courage against an unforgiving sport. Day four on the platform in Glasgow delivered another stark reminder that gravity does not negotiate, testing the resilience of our athletes to the very end.
Following a week of razor-thin margins and heart-wrenching exits, yesterday’s action saw Cheyenne Smith dig deep to get on the board, while Nicolaas Du Plooy unfortunately fell victim to the heavy bar.
Du Plooy Bows Out in the Snatch
Weightlifting is a sport of absolute jeopardy, miss your three attempts in either the Snatch or the Clean & Jerk, and your competition is instantly over. Yesterday, that brutal reality struck Nicolaas Du Plooy in the Men’s 94kg division.
Entering the competition with high hopes, Du Plooy set his opening Snatch weight at a bold 132kg. Despite three courageous attempts, he was unable to successfully lock out the weight, resulting in a Did Not Finish (DNF) and ending his campaign before the Clean & Jerk phase even began. Malaysia’s Mohamad Syahmi Bin Nor-Ghazali took the gold with an impressive 347kg total.
While the DNF is a devastating outcome, Du Plooy’s willingness to attack a heavy opening weight speaks to the fearless mentality this Team SA squad has brought to Scotland.
Smith Brings the Grit in the 86kg
Later in the evening, Cheyenne Smith stepped under the lights for the Women’s 86kg final. Knowing the struggles her teammates had faced over the previous two days, Smith needed to bring a steady nerve and South Africa’s trademark gees to the platform. She delivered exactly that.
Smith started her campaign solidly, successfully hoisting 82kg and 86kg in the Snatch before just missing out on her third attempt at 90kg. Moving to the Clean & Jerk, she opened successfully at 96kg and followed it up with a strong 100kg lift, though a final attempt at 102kg eluded her.
Her combined total of 186kg secured her a 10th-place finish in a world-class field dominated by Australia’s Eileen Cikamatana, who set a Games Record with a 248kg total. Smith walked off the platform having fought for every single kilogram, representing the Republic with pride and grit.
Team SA Daily Results Summary (Day 3)
Athlete | Event | Best Snatch | Best Clean & Jerk | Total | Final Position |
Nicolaas Du Plooy | Men’s 94kg | No Lift | Did Not Compete | DNF | DNF |
Cheyenne Smith | Women’s 86kg | 86 kg | 100 kg | 186 kg | 10th |
Looking Ahead: The Big Men Close the Show Today
The chalk dust is settling, but Team SA still has one final roar left in Glasgow. Today marks the final day of the weightlifting program, and the super-heavyweights are ready to take centre stage.
The nation’s hopes now rest on the broad shoulders of Chris Reeders, who will represent South Africa in the Men’s +110kg division.
Reeders will step onto the platform tonight at 19:30 (SA Time). After a week of agonizing misses, raw emotion, and immense bravery from the squad, all eyes will be on Reeders who will close out Team SA’s weightlifting campaign in Glasgow.
Tune in, bring the gees, and let’s back our final lifter all the way!
For More South African Sports News: Sport South Africa Home Page
