Weightlifter Trumble wins silver at Commonwealth Championships, looks to the future

JOHANNESBURG - Jonathan Trumble, who first got into weightlifting through CrossFit, decided to fully commit to the sport in 2023, a decision that led to a silver medal at the recent Commonwealth Championships.

"I first got into weightlifting through CrossFit. My coach at the time told me I had a natural ability and encouraged me to pursue it. I did both CrossFit and weightlifting for a few years, but in 2023, I committed fully to weightlifting for about eight months. That year, I trained for the Commonwealth Championships and ended up placing third - with only four months of weightlifting-specific training. I carried on because I genuinely enjoyed it," Trumble said.

A few years later, he went up one at the podium, bringing home a silver medal from the 2025 Commonwealth Championships, missing out on a gold medal by just 2kg.

"My most recent competition was the Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad, India. I was happy with my performance, placing second overall in the Junior 71kg division. It was bittersweet, though, because I missed gold by just 2kg. That only means I need to work harder going forward. My final lifts were a 112kg snatch and a 150kg clean & jerk," said Trumble.

The part-time adaptive coach, specialising in weightlifting, gymnastics, and CrossFit, said that throughout his competitive career, he has learned that discipline is everything.

"I live by the quote: 'Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.' Having goals and staying consistent doesn’t just help in sport, it carries over into everyday life and makes you a better person."

The 19-year-old won two gold medals at the 2025 national championships in the junior division and is looking forward to competing at the senior level.

"Coming second this year at the Commonwealth Championships was a privilege, but I see it as just the beginning. My next big goal is competing at the Commonwealth Games. It will be tougher as I move into the senior division, but I’d love to represent my country and gain more experience,"he said.

He told Eyewitness News that the South African Weightlifting Federation was doing its best with limited resources, but there wasn’t much funding for Olympic weightlifting in South Africa.

"Overseas, the sport is on a much bigger scale, with better support, equipment, and facilities. I’m hopeful that with more exposure and time, we can help grow the sport here in South Africa. Looking ahead, I’d love to see a proper official facility built in South Africa—somewhere that could host local competitions and even smaller international events. It would really help develop and promote the sport here."

He said that his family and friends gave him an extra push to continue competing, making him feel like he had a small army behind him, especially on tough days.

"Any support means a lot, whether it’s following my journey online or even just sending a message. But right now, most of our competitions overseas are self-funded, so financial help would make a huge difference. It’s not mandatory, but I’d be really grateful. I’m also reaching out to sponsors to support my passion and help grow South African weightlifting."

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