Team GB select teenager Rebekah Tiler for Rio
By Peter Gilbert
Last Updated: 29/06/16 12:55pm
Rebekah Tiler has been named in the Great Britain weightlifting squad for Rio 2016.
The 17-year-old from Keighley in Yorkshire pipped Zoe Smith to the single available women's berth after the British clean and jerk record holder injured a shoulder during last month's British Championships.
Tiler, who will head to Rio as the reigning British champion, won three bronze medals at this year's European Championships in April and finished fourth at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
"I am so excited and honoured to be representing Team GB in Rio this summer; it's a dream come true and something I've wanted ever since I got into the sport," said Tiler.
"The next few weeks of preparation are so important and thanks to the support from UK Sport & British Weightlifting, I'm 100 per cent focused on ensuring that I'm in the best possible condition heading into Rio and I can't wait to go out there and do my best."
Tiler will be joined in the squad by 22-year-old British record holder Sonny Webster, who also finished fourth at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
"The Olympics is undoubtedly the biggest stage for the sport and to be given the opportunity to represent my country in Rio this summer is something I'm incredibly proud of," said Webster.
Smith, who competed at London 2012 and won gold in Glasgow, will require surgery on the injury which effectively ended her hopes of going to her second Olympics.
