31 July 2026 | Glasgow, Scotland
The chalk dust has finally settled in Glasgow, bringing a close to a gruelling, emotional, and intensely physical weightlifting program at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Over four days of fierce competition, Team South Africa experienced the full spectrum of this unforgiving sport, from the agony of missed lifts and narrow podium misses to the sheer triumph of pushing the human body past its limits.
On the final day, it was up to the super-heavyweights to bring the curtain down, and South Africa’s Chris Reeders stepped onto the platform ready to leave his mark.
Reeders Battles the Iron in the +110kg
Competing against the true giants of the sport in the Men’s +110kg division, Chris Reeders carried the final hopes of the nine-athlete South African contingent. Knowing the rollercoaster his teammates had endured throughout the week, Reeders aimed for a steady, composed performance to close out the Games.
He opened the Snatch phase successfully at 135kg and methodically bumped his weight up, securing a 140kg lift before missing his final attempt at 145kg. Moving into the Clean & Jerk, Reeders showed tremendous power, successfully lifting 163kg on his first attempt. He pushed higher but missed his subsequent attempts at 168kg and 170kg.
His efforts yielded a total of 303kg, securing him an 8th-place finish in a monumental final. The event was won by New Zealand’s David Liti, who claimed gold with a staggering 389kg total, setting a new Games Record in the Clean & Jerk (223kg) in the process.
For Reeders, getting a total on the board and fighting through all six attempts was a testament to the resilience that has characterized the entire South African squad this week.
A Campaign of Brutal Honesty and Unbroken Spirit
As the lights go down on the weightlifting arena at the SEC Armadillo, Team SA can reflect on a campaign defined by sheer gees and unwavering courage.
Guided by head coaches Lyle Du Plooy and Darryn Anthony, this nine-athlete squad arrived in Scotland having already conquered gruelling international qualifiers just to earn their place. Once on the platform, they faced the brutal reality of a sport where gravity is the ultimate judge.
We saw Johanni Taljaard miss a bronze medal by a heartbreaking 3kg. We watched Laryne Jefferies and Anneke Spies-Burger fight for every kilogram in stacked international fields. And we witnessed the devastating reality of the DNF as Jon-Antohein Phillips, William Swart, and Nicolaas Du Plooy pushed their bodies to the absolute brink, only to be denied by the iron.
Through it all, the squad stood as one. The electric embrace of the team, the shared South African identity, and their refusal to back down in the face of immense pressure proved that while they may not return with hardware, they leave Glasgow having done the Republic incredibly proud.
The bar will be loaded again, and Team SA will be ready.
Final Team SA Results Summary (Day 4)
Athlete | Event | Best Snatch | Best Clean & Jerk | Total | Final Position |
Chris Reeders | Men’s +110kg | 140 kg | 163 kg | 303 kg | 8th |
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