Camberwell gym the hotspot for Team GB weightlifting
A weightlifting club run by a former Bulgarian national champion is hoping to become a go-to destination for future GB Olympians, with two internationals already making it their base.
Mehmed Fikretov opened his Jewell Street gym in Camberwell in December 2021, and the club has quickly built a strong reputation as one of the capital’s top Olympic weightlifting centres.
The 36-year-old, from Forest Hill, has built a reputation as one of the best coaches in the sport.
Two of the gym’s members, Katrina Feklistova and Erin Barton, are British gold medalists and record holders in their categories.
They represented Team GB at an international event in France and have hopes of making it to September’s World Championships in Saudi Arabia.
It reflects the fact that women’s weightlifting is having a moment in the UK.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Team GB’s squad was entirely female and Nottingham’s Emily Campbell became the first British woman to win an Olympic medal.
Ms Campbell’s success has clearly inspired others to give the sport a go, as just days after Mehmed opened the doors to his gym, memberships were snapped up by experienced lifters and newbies alike. And 80 per cent of his members are women.
And while the club’s men are in the minority, one member, Omarie Mears, won gold at the 2022 English Weightlifting Championship in October, and last month competed for Jamaica at the World Championships in Bogotá.
The gym is now expanding its premises to accommodate more members – from Arch 300 to Arch 301 by the end of this month – with the owner insisting that it is not just for Olympic hopefuls, but can be enjoyed by people of all ages, sizes and fitness levels.
Mehmed said: “If you’re new to the sport, Olympic weightlifting may seem a little scary at first, especially if the sound of a barbell crashing back down on the ground catches you off guard.
“But really, there’s no need to feel apprehensive about it. Our gym’s a friendly and inclusive space where everyone — both experienced lifters and newbies — is welcome to train.
“Our members are young and old, from late teens to late 50s. Some of them had never picked up a barbell before they walked into the gym.
“We recognise that no one is born an Olympic weightlifting expert, so no one will judge you for taking the time to learn the ropes.”
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member, please visit memsweightlifting.com
Pictured top: Mehmed Fikretov (Picture: Mem’s Weightlifting Club)
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