Back from the USA

I arrived back from Killeen, Texas on Monday,31st May having competed in the World Bench Press Championship (able bodied). It was a great experience. I spent the first week training in Clinton, Indiana with other GB team members before heading off to Texas. We trained there on a vast military base - the biggest in USA at 800 square miles in area. The gym was enormous with many benches and equipment pretty well as far as the eye could see! I had a bit of a scare 3 days before the competition as I developed an ear infection, probably picked up in a swimming pool in Indiana, so had to be put on anti-biotics. I felt quite drained and weak, even up to the day of the competition. But I did my best. The competition went well and I achieved 8 white lights for my 3 lifts which meant that every lift was good. I placed 4th with a lift of 132.5kg in the 56kg bodyweight class which is 2 classes heavier than my IPC category, with a bodyweight of 47.1kg. The other lifters in the group all wore bench-shirts which gave them a distinct advantage.

On Friday, 4th June, I was interviwed by Ian Wyatt from the BBC Essex radio Saturday Breakfast show. This went out on Saturday morning around 7.50. At that time I was already at Stoke Mandeville for the official weigh-in for the British Championships. I weighed in heavy at 48.15kg! So I decided to head for the toilet - again! Then went for another weigh and just scraped in after removing my pants! The things you do for sport!

I still felt jet lagged. My body clock was all over the place but my coach had already decided that I would not lift more than 125kg. However I felt quite good after the second lift and went for 130kg on my 3rd lift. I achieved 3 white lights on every lift so was well pleased with that. It was good enough to retain my British Champion title. I also won the Harry Dufton trophy for the most improved lifter.

My next competition is on June 20th in Milton Keynes at the British Un-assisted Bench Press Championship (able bodied).