Expert coaching for lifters of every age.
From a young athlete's first lift to adult and masters competitors, Atlas Weightlifting is a community club known for developing strong, technically sound lifters. Founded in the East Midlands in 1953.
About Atlas Weightlifting.
Atlas Weightlifting is a community-driven club dedicated to developing athletes at every stage — from young lifters taking their first steps in the sport, through adult competitors, and all the way to experienced masters athletes. Although we support lifters of all ages, our core focus is on delivering outstanding youth development pathways that build strength, confidence and long-term athletic potential.
From 1953 to today.
Atlas Weightlifting began in the 1950s, founded by Les Hathaway, who coached early lifters including Cyril Martin and Dave Hancock. They later passed their knowledge on to Dave Sawyer, who started lifting at 11 years old and became part of the club's coaching lineage.
In the 1970s, Cyril and international lifter Dave Hancock were offered an old café at Alfreton Lido. They transformed it into a recognised centre of excellence for weightlifting and powerlifting, hosting major competitions and developing many young lifters who progressed through regional and national pathways.
After Dave Hancock sadly passed away, Cyril invited Dave Sawyer to become a partner. Both were active competitors and qualified British Weight Lifting coaches, and together they continued to grow Atlas and strengthen its national profile.
When the original centre closed for redevelopment, Dave reopened the club in Alfreton as Atlas Workout Warehouse, ensuring the Atlas legacy continued and providing a home for lifters across the Midlands. Across both the old and new clubs, Atlas developed countless young athletes, building a reputation for strong technical foundations and supportive coaching.
A major milestone came in 2018 with the launch of Atlas Junior Weightlifting, led by coach Nigel, introducing structured youth pathways, engaging sessions and a welcoming environment for children and teenagers. This marked Atlas's evolution from a grassroots club into a respected talent academy known for producing technically skilled, confident young lifters.
Atlas has since expanded into Nottingham, where Cyril continues to provide expert guidance and decades of technical knowledge to support coaches Nigel, Rachel and Lance. Alongside his coaching legacy, Cyril has authored two influential books — For the Love of Weightlifting and Developing the Young Weightlifter — further cementing his impact on the sport. Dave now works nationally for British Weight Lifting, continuing the legacy that began more than 70 years ago.
Cyril Martin — coach, mentor & author
Precision, patience, strong foundations.
Atlas has been shaped by many dedicated coaches over the decades. The clear technical principles and long-term development approach in Cyril Martin's work helped influence our coaching style — especially the emphasis on precision, patience and strong foundational movement. Those ideas sit alongside modern sport-science practice and the expertise of our wider coaching team, creating a balanced, progressive environment for every athlete.
Five things we hold to.
Youth-centred development
Structured pathways from a first lift to competitive success — delivered in a fun, friendly and confidence-building atmosphere.
Adult & masters progression
Inclusive coaching that supports lifelong participation, at any age or stage.
High-quality coaching
Blending tradition, hard-won experience and modern training methods.
Positive culture
Enjoyment, resilience and community at every level of the club.
Community values
Supporting every athlete, every step of the way.
Atlas Weightlifting is committed to providing a safe, inspiring space where lifters of all ages — especially young athletes — can thrive on the platform and beyond it.
Barbell to platform.
You don't need to be strong, fit or experienced to start — just turn up. Coaches teach the lifts from the ground up, at your pace, whether you're here to feel better, get strong, or compete. Masters athletes are just as welcome as first-timers.
Start from scratch
Learn the snatch and clean & jerk safely, with coaching on every rep. No judgement, no minimum standard.
Get genuinely strong
Structured sessions that build strength, mobility and confidence, with a coach and a community behind you.
Onto the platform
Ready for more? We'll guide you into your first competition and beyond — masters included.
Developing the young lifter.
Youth development is the heart of the club — and it's meant to be fun. Our junior sessions are friendly, supportive and full of energy, the kind of place a young person looks forward to. Coached well, weightlifting is also one of the safest and most rewarding things they can do — building strength, coordination, discipline and real confidence, with a clear pathway from first lift to the competition platform.
Beginner
Movement, body awareness and the basics of the lifts — learning to train safely and enjoy it.
Improver
Refining technique, building strength progressively and developing the habits of a real lifter.
Advanced
The competition pathway — for young lifters ready to test themselves on the platform.
A programme for young women
A supportive space designed to get more girls under the bar, coached by people who build lasting confidence.
Summer & winter camps
Fun, active holiday sessions that keep young people moving, learning and part of the community all year.
Safeguarding is central to everything we do with young people. Coaches working with juniors are DBS-checked and safeguarding-trained.
A community that turns up for each other.
From a young lifter's first session to an adult chasing a competition total, Atlas is a place to belong. Same chalk, same bar, same people in your corner.
Coached by people who know the sport.
Our coaching team brings decades of combined experience across youth, adult and masters lifting — technically sharp, patient, and genuinely invested in every athlete's progress.
Nigel
Has coached young people across three sports since 2001, and launched Atlas Junior Weightlifting in 2018.
Rachel
A high-performance gymnastics coach from 1997, Rachel moved into Olympic weightlifting as a Masters athlete — qualifying as a weightlifting coach in 2023 and taking European Masters silver in 2025. She's also a qualified strength & conditioning coach and yoga instructor, and loves helping lifters of all ages and abilities reach their potential.
Lance
A PE teacher who moved into long-term athletic development, Lance co-founded the Nottingham Athletic Development Academy, supporting over 100 young people across sports to reach their potential and stay injury-free. He found weightlifting at Atlas around 2019 — coached by Nigel, with advice from Cyril — and won Masters silver at the 2023 British Championships in Glasgow. He also helped start the club's junior section, and brings big ideas and relentless energy to everything he does.
Cyril Martin
Founded the club in 1953 and remains part of its story. His writing on long-term athlete development still shapes how Atlas coaches today.
When we're open.
The club runs evenings through the week, Friday-afternoon open gym, and Saturday mornings. Coached sessions are shown alongside open-gym time, so you know what you're getting.
| Day | Hours | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 5:00–8:00pm | Coached sessionOpen gym |
| Tuesday | 5:00–8:00pm | Coached sessionOpen gym |
| Wednesday | 5:30–8:00pm | Coached sessionOpen gym |
| Thursday | 5:00–8:00pm | Coached sessionOpen gym |
| Friday | 4:30–7:00pm | Open gym · uncoached |
| Saturday | 9:00am–12:00pm | Coached sessionOpen gym |
| Sunday | Closed | — |
Session times are indicative — please check before travelling. Friday is uncoached open-gym training. Bookings are through Gymcatch.
Membership & passes.
From a beginner course to unlimited performance coaching, there's an option to match how you train. Concession rates keep the club open to families on lower incomes, because cost shouldn't decide who gets to lift.
Beginner Weightlifting Course
A six-week coached course covering the fundamentals of Olympic weightlifting. Perfect for beginners.
Book the courseDrop-In Session
Access to one coached club session. Ideal for occasional training or visitors.
Book a drop-inWeekly Membership
One coached session per week, with club programming and coaching support.
Join weeklyJunior Membership
Unlimited junior sessions, qualified coaching and club programming.
Join Atlas JuniorsClub Membership
Unlimited club access, club programming and use of all equipment.
Become a memberPerformance Membership
Our highest level of support — for lifters serious about progress and competition.
- Unlimited access to all club sessions
- Coaches available at every session
- Individualised training programme tailored to your goals
- Personal technique analysis and feedback
- Ongoing programme adjustments as you progress
- Competition preparation and support
- Priority coaching and athlete development
We offer reduced rates for families on lower incomes and can support access where cost is a barrier. Please get in touch — a quiet word is all it takes, and it stays between us.
New to Atlas? Please complete our quick health & readiness form before your first session — it takes two minutes and helps our coaches keep everyone training safely.
All bookings and payments are handled securely through Gymcatch.
What's coming up.
The competitions our lifters are heading to next — come and support the club on the platform.
The Inferno
Staffs Lifting Gym · 23rd August
British Age Group Championship
3rd & 4th October
Come and find us.
New lifters of any age, and curious parents, are always welcome. Drop us a line, or just come along during opening hours and say hello.
