Age not a barrier for our Australian record holder

There are six national records a powerlifter can hold in one class. This Mackay lifter has eight.

Mackay's Simon Watkins holds eight national powerlifting records.

THERE are six national records a powerlifter can hold in one class. This Mackay lifter has eight.

Masters powerlifter Simon Watkins boasts a clean sweep across all records in the 55-59 years, 90kg class.

He holds the record in the three-lift squat, bench press, deadlift and total scores as well as individual bench and deadlift.

On Wednesday, Watkins turned 60 and wasted no time setting another two national bests.

Just two weeks after he won gold at the GPC Masters Spring Nationals in Melbourne, Watkins lifted two records in a new age and weight class.

Watkins spoke to the Daily Mercury before he competed at the weekend and guaranteed success.

“I’ll go up to the next category and I’ll be a heavier weight than I’m used to, because I didn’t bother cutting,” he said.

“I guarantee whatever I bench and deadlift will be better than the national record.”

At the Mackay GPC Tri Nations Push Pull competition, Watkins made a 135kg bench press and a 200kg deadlift.

His performance thrashed the former bench record by 50kg. There was no claim to the national deadlift record in the Masters 5 100kg class, but his 200kg total set a high watermark.

The Mackay athlete had trained in gyms since he was 20, but it was pure chance that he found powerlifting.

“I asked a bloke to help me with those three lifts (bench, dead and squat) and he said ‘so you want to be a powerlifter?’” Watkins said.

“That’s how it all started for me. Then Mackay held its first GPC comp and because it was here I entered.”

Watkins prided himself on competing in every competition Mackay has held since.

“ I do it because I love lifting,” he said.

“You can’t control how old you are, but I decide how (fit) I’m going to be at 60, and it’s a bit different than most.”