Commonwealth Games 2026: Former Thrower Yee Lifts Singapore to New Heights With National Record on Debut

Yee was in high spirits throughout her competition. Photo: Commonwealth Games Singapore/ Lim Weixiang

When Melissa Yee first took up weightlifting, she could hardly have imagined that less than 11 months later, she would be making her Commonwealth Games debut.

Yet, on Thursday (July 30, Glasgow time), the 27-year-old made history by becoming the first Singaporean woman to compete in the women’s +86kg weightlifting event at the Games when she stepped onto the platform at the SEC Armadillo.

By the end of the afternoon, she also set a new national record, lifting 95kg in the snatch and 115kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 210kg, to finish sixth out of 10 competitors.

Yee made sure to draw on the energy of the crowd before her attempts. Photo: Commonwealth Games Singapore/ Lim Weixiang 

Despite making her maiden Games appearance, Yee took to the stage like a fish to water, as she remained in high spirits throughout her attempts, buoyed by the enthusiastic crowd.

"It was ecstatic. The crowd was amazing, and I was able to hype them up. I drew strength from their energy, and I think I did quite well."

Yee was part of an extremely talented field which included England’s double World and Olympic medallist Emily Campbell, whose total of 278kg on the day was a new Games record, and Malaysia's SEA Games bronze medallist, Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman, who went on to claim the silver medal.

Teenage phenom and 2023 world junior championships medallist Etta Love completed the podium.

“To be able to share the platform with so many amazing athletes, I'm so thankful,” said Yee, who was lost for words after a sensational debut.

Yee could be forgiven for feeling so overwhelmed.

Less than a year ago, she was not lifting weights overhead but hurling them across the field.

The former national thrower, who specialised in the shot put and discus events, made the transition after spending more than a decade in athletics.

A true sporting all-rounder, Yee dabbled in everything from taekwondo and dragon boating to rugby. She went on to clinch bronze medals in the shot put and discus at the 2022 ASEAN University Games, and finished eighth in the shot put at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

But after missing the cut for the 2025 edition, she sought a new challenge.

It was then that she was introduced to the world of weightlifting by former teammate and fellow discus thrower Nicole Heng, who now holds the national records for the snatch, clean and jerk, and total in the women’s 64kg division.

Crediting her athletics background for “giving her a foundation”, Yee’s switch felt like a natural one.

Three months into her training, she set the national standard as the first female super heavyweight in Singapore with a lift of 81kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk at the National Weightlifting Championships.

Her rapid rise reached another milestone in April, when she improved on her national mark at her first international outing, the 2026 Oceania Weightlifting Championships.

Her 90kg snatch and 110kg clean and jerk performance in the Samoan capital also punched her ticket to the Glasgow Games.

She followed that up with a seventh-place finish at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, India, in May.

And now, she leaves Glasgow with yet another milestone to her name.

A new national record has given Yee a shot in the arm in her budding weightlifting career. Photo: Commonwealth Games Singapore/ Lim Weixiang

But, more importantly, she will carry home with her a renewed belief.

“My takeaway from this is really to trust the process and the work that I have done before the competition,” said Yee, who pushed through a niggling flu that kept her bedridden just days before her event.

Her coach, Ng Choong Yeow, was proud of his charge for rising to the occasion.

“She exceeded her expectations. Leading up to this, our main goal for her was to enjoy the competition,” he said. “It’s her best performance so far, so kudos to her. Moving on, we will brush up on her technique while maintaining strength.”

Chua broke the national record while competing in the 53kg division. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua

Earlier on Monday, fellow debutant Chua Jiin-linn also set a new national record in the women’s 53kg event, lifting 74kg in the snatch and 94kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 168kg, finishing sixth among 10 competitors.

Ng also reserved praise for Chua, saying: “(I believe) she can do much better, but her performance at these Games was really up to expectations.”

The 23rd Commonwealth Games are held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.