A massive congratulations to Sam Hayer who has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in The King’s New Year Honours for his services to weightlifting and the community.
Since 2007 Sam has been a gym manager at Oldbury Academy helping to coach and mentor aspiring young athletes in their journeys through weightlifting.
The academy itself has hosted multiple national weightlifting events in 2025 alone including the British and England Age Group Weightlifting Championships, 2025 Para Powerlifting Open and The British Weightlifting Adaptive Open.
Sam has also established a lasting regional legacy for para powerlifting in the region and the academy’s commitment to hosting inclusive events for all athletes regardless of background is inspiring.
These events have also provided valuable competitive opportunities for young athletes in Sandwell allowing them to showcase their talents on a national scale. With multiple medals also being won by Sandwell’s young athletes it puts Sandwell in the spotlight as a key hub for the future of UK weightlifting.
We’re proud Oldbury Academy and Sam Hayer are continuing to carry the legacy of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, that Sandwell proudly co-hosted, by continuing to provide opportunities for the young people of Sandwell to improve their health and become future champions.
