Weightlifter Josh Hutton will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow on 29 July, just a year after returning to full strength from a devastating ACL tear. The 21-year-old from North Shields tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a lift at the British University Championships two years ago, casting serious doubt on his Games aspirations.
Road to Recovery
Hutton suffered the injury while competing at the British University Championships. The tear required extensive rehabilitation and forced him to step away from competitive lifting. “It's been a rough journey,” Hutton reflected. “I was competing two years ago and I tore my ACL, so these past two years have been tough. It's been a lot of rehabs and getting ready for competing again.”
He made his return to full strength only a year ago, necessitating a rapid turnaround to qualify for the Games. “I had to go through the qualifying series and push quite hard to put myself in a position to be successful,” he said. “It's been a good little run but challenging at points.”
Psychological Battle
Competing at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow will require Hutton to lift weights even heavier than those that caused his injury. The mental challenge is as significant as the physical one. “There's always a little bit of doubt in your mind - ‘will my body withhold? Will it stand, can I do this?’” Hutton admitted. “But it's just trusting yourself. You've done the work. If it goes wrong, it goes wrong. You've got to shut out the voices, give it your best, and try as hard as you can.”
From Ice Hockey to Weightlifting
Hutton’s sporting journey began not in a weightlifting gym but on an ice rink in Whitley Bay, playing ice hockey. He started weightlifting ten years ago under the guidance of a strength and conditioning coach. “He brought in some weightlifting movements, and he had his own weightlifting club, so we just started from there,” Hutton explained. “Ten years down the line, I'm still with that coach and we've gone through it all from day one. It's been a great process.”
He still trains at North Tyneside Barbells in Wallsend, where he first stepped onto the weightlifting platform at age 11. While his club and coach remain the same, the stakes have risen dramatically.
Glasgow 2026: The Ultimate Goal
Competing in the men's 94kg category, Hutton has already represented England at the IWF World Championships and won national weightlifting gold medals. But the Commonwealth Games represents his biggest competition yet. “It means a lot,” he said. “It's something I've been trying to work towards for quite a while - breaking through on the national scene. It's been one of the ultimate goals for me. Having my first big event be the Commonwealth Games means a lot. It's one thing that most athletes want - it's up there with the Olympics and that high quality standard of events.”
Hutton’s journey serves as an inspiration, showing that setbacks can be overcome. “Somewhere down the line, there's light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Once you do all the hard work and it starts to pay off, you'll reap the rewards.”
Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33 million is raised every week for good causes, supporting athletes like Hutton at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
