Paralympic Potentials Camp

I had a really good time at Bath University from Wednesday 25th August to 30th August. There were 14 different paralympic sports represented by 150 athletes. We all mixed in together for meals and other leisure times so come 2012 we'll all be a big, happy family. A good atmosphere! Channel 4 was there. They are covering the Paralympics 2012 including features throughout the run-up to the big event. They have been interviewing and filming me in training at World Class Lifting base in Leeds Uni. and also featured me in a little bit of fun with T4's Rick Edwards. I had to challenge him to 3 lifts. Of course I won. It was filmed and shown on Channel4 at 12.50 on Saturday 28th August. I think there will be more features on me, and other athletes, later in the year.
The training went very well too and, hopefully, I have got over my recent back problem.
As a reward for all that hard work filming I have been allowed a week's holiday in Mallorca!!
Back to the bench and weights next week though - you can't stop training for long.

IPC World Powerlifting Championships - Kuala Lumpur

Just arrived back from the IPC World Powerlifting Championships after a very long, boring, 13 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur. I was very lucky to have competed at all though because 3 weeks before the competition I picked up a nasty lower back injury while training at the World Class Lifting camp in Leeds. Fortunately the team physio was on hand to give immediate treatment which must have contributed to my quick recovery. However, I was out of training in the vital 3 weeks run up to the competition. Training was going so well too. These things happen! I managed to get a couple of sessions in the gym at Kuala Lumpur before my competition. As I am in the lightest of the mens' categories (48kg bodyweight) I lifted on the first day. Then I was able to relax and watch the next few day's of competition without any pressure.

As it turned out I actually managed a PB in an IPC competition with my second lift of 132.5kg, just missing 135kg on my 3rd lift. I should have got that if my training hadn't been interrupted. This placed me 9th overall. I lifted the same weight as the 8th placed competitor but he was 200 grm lighter than me.

I don't think I have anymore competitions for the rest of the year so after a holiday in Majorca later this month I will be in strict training for the IPC UK Open Powerlifting Championship in January 2011.