Donald Coates

ERA: Late 70's and 80's

Body Weight: 82.5 kg

Personal Records: Snatch: 140kg

Clean and Jerk: 170kg

Major Competitions:1982 Commonwealth Games - Brisbane

Biography

Donald Coates, one of the top lifters over two decades, began his career aged 15 in 1976 under the guidance of Joe Sheppard.

He trained primarily in Queens P.E.C. and as a student of Wallace high school. Wallace, backed by teacher Bob Forster, who was later to become a B.W.L.A. coach made facilities and training available to Donald, spurring him on to great success.

In later years Donald studied accountancy at Bristol University, where he began training at the Empire Club, run by the late Den Welsh. This was the premier venue for weightlifting at the time, with the best and brightest flocking to it's doors to train.

Donald was the first athlete to be offered a GB vest and subsequently competed as a junior in the World Championships for Great Britain.

He competed in the Commonwealth games, Highlighting his talent and just missed out on a place at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles due to injury.

He still holds some of the heaviest lifts in N.I. to date, and remains one of, if not the best lifter to come from N.I.