Weight lifted off Breeze's shoulders

COMMONWEALTH champion Michaela Breeze admitted a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders after finally receiving her Olympic Beijing call up last week.

The Devon PE teacher, who claimed Melbourne Commonwealth gold in 2006 and competed at the Athens Olympics in 2004, will compete in the 63kg body weight category after being handed a Beijing wildcard by the British Weightlifting Association.

The Welsh heavyweight has suffered with a combination of poor form and injuries in recent years, meaning Breeze had been sweating on her Team GB berth.

"Yes, I'm thrilled that I'm going to Beijing - it's a huge weight off my shoulders," said Breeze.

"I seemed to have been waiting for such a long time to get confirmation and now I've got it - the feeling's great.

"And now I will be concentrating on training and keeping myself clear of any injuries.

"Fingers-crossed, I'm feeling fine at the moment and really appreciate having the pressure of not knowing whether I was going or not lifted off me."

 SACHA CLAYTON