Harrogate’s Lottie McGuinness claimed her first major medal when she won the bronze medal in the women’s up to 61 kg category at the Tbilisi 2026 European Open Championships in Georgia.

McGuinness’ best lift of 108 left her behind only Turkey’s Besra Duman, who took home the gold, and Russia’s Tamara Podpalnaia, who won the silver.

On winning the bronze medal, McGuinness said, "It's been quite brilliant. It's one of those 'I'm back home and it feels like a whirlwind ago' things, but it actually wasn’t. But no, it was very surreal, and I’m very happy with how it all went.”

“It was very much a special moment because it was my first major medal, and it was just a great way to complete it, and so I’m super happy.”

To win the bronze medal for ‘best’ lift, McGuinness battled against some of Europe’s best, as two Russians, 1 Armenian, 1 Ukrainian and 1 Turkish athlete joined the 24-year-old in Group A.

However, alongside her 3rd place finish in the ‘best lift’ category, the 24-year-old also finished 4th in the ‘total’ result table as she lifted a total of 212kg.

The ‘total’ results have been introduced in the past few years and allow athletes from Group B to medal, which was the case in the women’s up to 61kg category, as Arev Melkonyan and Marina Beketova took home gold and silver, respectively.

On the introduction of the total results, McGuinness said, "It always used to be a best medal, and the total medal came in around 2022, and I remember my first competition. There were two of us who went from Great Britain, so we were like the dummies, so we were testing it all out, and I got gold in the total medals and silver in the best, but what the reason for the total medal is is that someone from B group can win the total medal, and it can make it quite exciting.”

In the women’s upto 61kg category, McGuinness, who was competing in the ‘elite’ category, was one of the youngest in the event, which also contained a Russian ‘legend’ entrant as well as a Russian ‘next gen’ competitor.

At the competition, Great Britain also had representation across the ‘next gen’, ‘legend’ and ‘rookie’ competitions, with the NPC taking home 17 medals across all four different age group categories.

On the different age categories in powerlifting, especially in the Great Britain team, McGuinness said, "I think what’s quite special for GB is that we’ve got loads of new talent and the talented athletes who have been at it for years and are still progressing … I’m very grateful to a part of the team, and I truly believe we have the best team going.”

“I do believe we’ve got something special coming. We've got some of the older guys, some of the people who have been in it for quite a while, and then some people like myself who are a few years in, and then we’ve got the youngsters, and everyone is up for potential, like it's scarily good, but we’re one of those teams to be reckoned with.”

Ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, McGuinness and the rest of Team England’s powerlifting squad showcased their skills and determination, as all six selected powerlifters medalled in Georgia.

The three golds, two silvers and one bronze that GB’s elite athletes won left the NPC third in their category’s medal table, behind only Russia and Turkey.

On the successes of Team England’s powerlifters and what it means for the Commonwealth Games, McGuinness said, "What was quite cool was the fact that all the athletes that have qualified for England medalled at the Europeans, and it was really lovely to see.”

“I think going to the commies (the Commonwealth Games) will be harder, but I’m up for that, and I know I have five months to train and do what I can because it’s not only a home crowd, but it’s a Commonwealth Games, and it’s a big event; it’s going to be on TV, and I’ve got so many people coming. We’re one of the first medal events, so a podium would be incredible, and that’s what I’m envisioning and what I’m working towards.”

After her medal-winning performance, McGuinness will now turn her attention to training for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Glasgow from 23rd July to 2nd August 2026.