GEORGE Speight has made his mark in powerlifting after winning gold and setting a record in the master IV bench press 93kg category at the Oceania Regional Powerlifting and Bench Press Championship.
The 70-year-old lifted 107.5kg to improve the previous mark of 102.5kg, becoming the first Fijian to compete in the Masters 4 division, for lifters aged 70 and above.
Speight said he was humbled by the achievement and grateful for the opportunity to compete.
“I thank the Father for giving me the strength for an event which I did not anticipate at all until early this year that I would be able to compete,” he said.
“The door opened and I’m just so grateful to be able to make it this far.”
He credited his nephew, Samisoni Speight, a strength and fitness coach with the Drua team and a powerlifter, for introducing him to the sport.
Speight said his nephew invited him to take part in a novice competition earlier this year, which encouraged him to pursue powerlifting.
He also acknowledged the support and guidance of his coach, Sahil Ram, who, despite his busy schedule as a school teacher, dedicated his time to preparing him for the competition.
The Masters 4 division featured four competitors from across Oceania, representing Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji.
Speight said he hoped to compete in more international events, with several Masters competitions scheduled around the world next year.
He encouraged young people and older adults to consider powerlifting, saying resistance training could benefit health at every age.
“As you get older, you tend to be more sedentary. We don’t move around too much, and so we lose our muscle structures,” he said.
He said doctors had encouraged him to continue the sport because of its health benefits, including helping maintain bone and muscle strength.
For Speight, the achievement has shown that age should not prevent people from trying something new.
