Commonwealth Games champion Zoe Smith was in record breaking form as she recorded Great Britain’s best finish at a weightlifting World Championships since 2002 in Houston, America.

Competing in the -63kg final, Smith set a new snatch personal best of 97kg to finish ninth overall.

Her subsequent 124kg clean and jerk and overall total of 221kg also saw her beat Michaela Breeze’s previous British record.

Her performance was the best by a British lifter since two-time Commonwealth champion Breeze came fifth in 2002.

"To be competing alongside some of the best in the world was a real privilege," said Smith on her Instagram account.

"Hopefully someday soon I'll give them a run for their money. Ninth place at the World Championships isn't too bad at all."

Smith’s teammate Rebekah Tiler, who usually competes at -69kg, was also 13th in the final.

Tiler, winner of gold at the 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games, achieved 93kg in the snatch and 118kg in the clean and jerk phases.

© Sportsbeat 2015