Lottie McGuinness from Harrogate is selected for Team England.
A para-powerlifter from North Yorkshire has said it was "very surreal" to get the call-up to represent Team England at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Charlotte McGuinness - known as Lottie - will compete in the women's up to 61kg lightweight category on the opening day of the games on 24 July.
The 24-year-old has competed at national and international level for a number of years, but has never featured in the Commonwealth Games.
The powerlifter from Harrogate, who began her sporting career as a swimmer, said: "I've been as a spectator, but to have gotten that call, I was ecstatic."
Speaking after her selection was confirmed, McGuinness said: "It's going to be up in Glasgow, so the audience is going to be mega and more people will be able to travel to watch, because it's an easier location to get to.
"And yeah, I'm super excited."
McGuinness, who came fourth in the women's 55kg category in the Paris Paralympics in 2024, originally competed as a swimmer after being encouraged by double gold medallist Ellie Simmonds.
Finding out McGuinness was struggling to come to terms with her disability, Simmonds wrote a letter to her inviting her to the World Dwarf Games to "meet people like yourself".
Paralympics GB said it discovered her powerlifting potential in 2019.
'Massive milestone'
McGuinness made her international debut at the 2021 World Junior Championships, picking up a silver medal and went on to collect a bronze in the Manchester Powerlifting World Cup, before competing in the women's 55kg category in Paris.
Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games, McGuinness said: "The fight for medals, it's going to be quite tough, but I'm excited about that and almost ready to put on a show in a sense."
She said she would compete against "many countries including Nigeria, Kenya, all part of the Commonwealth" and was hoping to lift close to 120kg (264.5lbs) or above.
"I think it will be a massive milestone, amazing, if I do.
"And if I did it in front of that home crowd, I think the feeling will be indescribable, unbelievable.
"We can hope."
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