Powerlifting is not a high-profile sport until you get to an Olympic or Commonwealth Games year, then it increases for two weeks as Australians seek out a medal winner.

At the recent CAPO (Corporation of Australia Powerlifting Organisation) National Powerlifting Championships in Adelaide, five representatives from the Cyclone Training Centre in Goonellabah set seven National Records and two World Records—a stellar feat.

There are different age and weight categories in powerlifting, which includes Masters for those competing 40 and over (each 5 years puts you into a different category M1, M2 etc)

Josh Brown, one of the World Record performers, told the Lismore App that people in their 80s are still competing.

"We have fifteen people in our training centre where the youngest is 14 and the oldest is mid-40s, but I have seen men in their 80s still lifting heavy weights."

Training is an intense affair that starts three to four months out from a major competition, requiring two to four-hour sessions four days a week.

"You can only compete two to three times a year because of the training regime," Josh explained, "You are trying to peak at each major competition, so that is when you are at your strongest."

"You can't maintain that strength all year round because you would injure yourself if you lifted your maximum weights continuously."

"I did a mini-peak for the Nationals because there is only a short gap to the World Championships in Manchester (UK) at the end of October. It's a fairly tight turnaround, so I'll be straight back into training for the World's."

Each weightlifter's results are listed below, however, as an example, Shane Atta-Singh squatted 375kgs, which is the equivalent of a polar bear or a grand piano.

Josh explained that in a competition, lifters get three attempts to perform each of the three disciplines.

1. Squat
2. Bench Press
3. Dead Lift

The best scores are added together to form the Total score for that competition.

There are fifteen powerlifters in the Cyclone Training Centre in Goonellabah with five of those heading to Adelaide.

"Everyone did really well," Josh said, "there were quite a few PBs (personal bests) set."

For the World Championships, just one, Josh, is heading to Manchester.

"There will be twenty-eight powerlifters from Australia travelling to Manchester. Hopefully, I do well. I hope to put a few more kilos on top of what I have just lifted."

Josh will be competing in the Open Division (25-40 year olds) in the Worlds.

Day 1: saw Alex Sipple competing in the Teen 13-15 yr Division -

• Squat - 193kg PB & National Record
• Bench - 120kg
• Dead - 201kg PB & National Record
• Total - 514kg PB @101.25kg

Day 2: Shane Atta-Singh and Josh Brown competed in the Open Men's Division

• Squat - 375kg PB
• Bench - 210kg
• Dead - 330kg PB & National Record
• Total - 915kg @ 137.8kg

Josh Brown 100kg

• Squat - 315kg PB, M1 National and World Record
• Bench - 182.5kg M1 National Record
• Dead - 300kg
• Total 797.5kg M1 National and World Record @99.35kg

Day 3: Marie and Trish competed in the Masters Women's Division

Marie

• Squat - 150kg PB
• Bench - 60kg PB
• Dead - 150kg PB
• Total - 360kg PB @68.3kg

Trish

• Squat - 135kg
• Bench - 72.5kg PB
• Dead - 164kg PB & M2 National Record
• Total - 371.5kg PB @79.85kg

If powerlifting is something you would like to try out, you will find the Cyclone Training Centre at the East Point Shopping Village on Ballina Road in Goonellabah in between Chemist Warehouse and Sapphire Dental.

Josh says, "Once you start, you get hooked, you fall in love it, and you don't stop."