Commonwealth Games: Meet the Lance Corporal bulked up for Birmingham

A British Army soldier will be representing Ghana at his second Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Lance Corporal Victor Ahiavor competed on the judo mats in Glasgow at the 2014 Games.

He's hoping that those experiences, as well as a stronger physical build, will lead to success this time around.

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"I think I'm going to be very smart and very quick," said LCpl Ahiavor.

"I think moving from 90kg to 100kg – I have a way of making it at this level."

The First Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers soldier had targeted a spot at the Tokyo Olympics but the qualifying rules during the pandemic made things difficult.

He explained: "It was really disappointing. The pandemic came in and COVID-19 hit everywhere. All the points that I'd built had to be changed because we have last-minute competitions.

"Someone else won a medal which means all the points that you've built are gone."

That disappointment hasn't stopped the lance corporal from thinking about being in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.

"I would really like to be there," he said.

"I know I have the support from the regiment, Army Sport Control Board and all the United Kingdom training partners.

"2024. Paris. Sure – I'll give it a go."