OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Oliver surprised to equal British record

By Andrews Greaves, Sportsbeat, London 2012

WEIGHTLIFTER Jack Oliver said he was as surprised as anyone to record a new personal best – and equal the British record – in the men’s 77kg at London 2012, especially after oversleeping.

NO SLEEP EQUALS RECORD: An overslept Jack Oliver rushes to weightlifting event to match Britain's best lift

Oliver lifted 140kg in the snatch and a British record-equalling weight of 170kg in the clean and jerk to finish fourth in the Group B at the ExCeL.

But the 21-year-old admitted that his preparation had not been ideal but was thankful for the support in the capital.

“In the morning I overslept by an hour. I couldn’t hear my alarm so I woke up to my coach banging on the door,” he said.

“I had no time for anything. Just clothes on, out the door, bang. The extra hour of sleep must have done me good.

“My training hasn’t been going too good, so it was all a bit of a surprise. It’s my personal best and I don’t know where it came from. It was down to the crowd, their cheering.

“The difference between the warm-up room and the platform was amazing. It felt like they were taking 10kg off the bar instead of putting it on.”

Swansea-born lifter and British champion Natasha Perdue was forced to pull out from the 69kg category after suffering from a back injury.

Her late father and brother, both named Terry, competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and three Commonwealth Games respectively.

© Sportsbeat 2012