Zoe’s big night leaves her one step away from a place at the Games

The mother of teenage weightlifter Zoe Smith said she was the “proudest mum in London” today after her daughter took a big stride towards qualifying for the 2012 Olympics.

The 17-year-old from Greenwich broke her personal best at the European Weightlifting Championships in Istanbul, leaving her one step away from a place at the Games.

Her civil servant mother, Niki, 51, and father Terry, 70, a retired lorry driver, cheered her on as they watched the contest on television last night. Mrs Smith said: “She looked so composed and focused. Just before she competed, Zoe texted me saying, ‘I waved like mad for you. Did you see me?’ ”

Smith lifted 92kg in the snatch and 116kg in the clean and jerk, 18kg above the Olympic “A standard”. To qualify for the Games, she must make another set of “A standard” lifts next month.

Mrs Smith attributed her daughter’s success to home cooking, Maximuscle protein shakes and coach Andy Callard.