Raymond Williams (born 9 September 1959 in

Holyhead Holyhead (; , "Cybi's fort") is a historic port town, and is the list of Anglesey towns by population, largest town and a Community (Wales), community in the county of Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Holyhead is on Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island ...

North Wales North Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdon ...

) is a Welsh weightlifter. Williams was voted Young Welsh Sports Personality of the Year in 1977 after being placed in the junior weightlifting championships. He joined the

army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

and served with the

Royal Welch Fusiliers The Royal Welch Fusiliers () was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, and part of the Prince of Wales's Division, that was founded in 1689, shortly after the Glorious Revolution. In 1702, it was designated a fusilier regiment and becam ...

until 2003. Returning to the sport, Williams won the Welsh weightlifting championships in 1983 and the Celtic Nations title the following year. Williams won the gold medal in the featherweight class at the

1986 Commonwealth Games The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, between 24 July and 2 August 1986. This was the second Commonwealth Games to be held in Edinburgh. Thirty two of the eligible fifty nine countries (largely African, Asian and Caribbe ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

, beating David Lowenstein of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

and Jeffrey Brice, a fellow Welshman. In 2003, Williams was appointed as the first National Weightlifting Coach for

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

External links

Ray Williams on the BBC Wales sports hall of fame
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Ray 1959 births Living people Welsh male weightlifters British male weightlifters Weightlifters at the 1986 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Wales Royal Welch Fusiliers soldiers People from Holyhead Sportspeople from Anglesey Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games Military personnel from Anglesey 20th-century British Army personnel 21st-century British Army personnel Commonwealth Games gold medallists in weightlifting