A 19-year-old Aberdeen powerlifter is preparing to take to the global stage after being selected to represent Scotland at the 2026 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Canada.
Robyn Gillespie will represent Team Scotland in the Junior Women’s -69kg category in Winnipeg this Saturday (September 19th), marking another major milestone in her powerlifting journey which began when she was just 16 years old.
Already a UK under-18s champion after taking first place at the Junior British Powerlifting Championships in 2025, Robyn is now preparing to test herself against competitors from across the Commonwealth.
“I put my name in for selection just with the hope that I would be selected,” explains Robyn. “So when I got the email through, it was a wow moment, I couldn’t believe it.
“I’m just so proud to be representing Scotland, it’s a good feeling.”
Robyn first started going to the gym at the age of 14, as soon as she was old enough to get a membership, before beginning to train specifically for powerlifting two years later.
Her introduction to the sport came through a powerlifter who worked with her Dad, who invited Robyn along to a gym and encouraged her to give it a go.
At age 16 and with very little competition preparation behind her, she entered her first powerlifting event where she started to realise her natural talent for the sport.
“I had quite a few people approach me and said, ‘wow, you’re 16, you’re really good at this’, so, from there, I thought maybe I do have potential.”
Three years later, that potential has translated into national success and international selection. And this week, she heads to Canada with her current competition lifts sitting at 122kg squat, 75kg bench press and 158kg deadlift.
Robyn trains four times a week, splitting her sessions between local gym facilities and Sport Aberdeen’s Get active @ Jesmond gym in the Bridge of Don, where she also works as a part-time leisure attendant. Robyn juggles all of this while also studying full time at RGU.
As she prepares for the Commonwealth Championships this weekend, Robyn says the support she has received from those around her, and from the wider powerlifting community, has played an important part in building her confidence and opening doors for her so far.
“Everyone has been so supportive,” she said. “Powerlifting is such a welcoming, supportive community. Everyone is helping where they can. It’s really nice.”
The Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships will be shown live for free on the official Commonwealth Powerlifting YouTube Channel, with Robyn’s colleagues and friends at Get active @ Jesmond all planning on tuning in to cheer her on.
Mark Wallace, Sport Aberdeen’s Health, Fitness and Retention Manager, said, “We’re so proud of Robyn and everything she’s achieved through her hard work and dedication. It’s been fantastic to see her progress, and I know everyone at Sport Aberdeen will be cheering her on every step of the way.”
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Find out more by visiting www.sportaberdeen.co.uk/september
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