Doncaster weightlifting star Fraer Morrow facing big push for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The 18-year-old, from Bessacarr, recently broke two British records on her way to becoming 53kg English champion in Milton Keynes - and has Tokyo 2020 in her sights.

Morrow’s rise to prominence has been rapid after taking up the sport only 18 months ago.

Now based at Loughborough University, the Doncaster teenager has been earmarked as a potential star of the future.

But the former gymnast’s Olympic dream could hang in the balance after weightlifting was recently announced as one of five sports to lose all UK Sport funding ahead of the 2020 Games.

“Tokyo 2020 is her ultimate goal so it’s a crushing blow,” said her father Grant, who played for Doncaster Rovers from 1989 to 1993.

“From March this year there will be no more funding for her coaches.

“She currently lives and studies in Loughborough where she trains twice a day, six days a week at Loughborough University.

“She works part time for Crawshaws to help finance her education and help towards the demands of her training and competing.”

Morrow, who became a British champion last year, added the English title to her collection last month with a record-breaking lift of 73kg in the snatch.

Her lift of 88kg in the clean and jerk gave her a combined total of 161kg, also a new British record.

In December she finished a creditable seventh at the Junior European Championships in Israel, her first international event.

She is ranked sixth in the Commonwealth for the 53kg open age category.