Powerlifting: Smallest in classroom to medal-winning lifter

BEEFED UP: Whangarei's Lindsay Daysh was once considered small, now he has just returning from the Commonwealth and Oceania Powerlifting/Benchpress Championships with four bronze medals.PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Whangarei's Lindsay Daysh used to be one of the small kids in his class. Now, as he readies himself for university study, the teenager is definitely not going to be considered small.

The 18-year-old powerlifter has come a long way since taking up the sport for a bit of competition between friends.

"Originally I was just going to the gym to get a bit bigger and a bit healthier, and one of my mates was doing it so I thought I'd just try it out," Daysh said, after returning from representing New Zealand at the Commonwealth and Oceania Powerlifting/Benchpress Championships in Auckland.

"From there I met a few guys at the gym who were supportive, the powerlifting community is good like that, and I went to a novice competition in Kerikeri. From there it just progressed."

Daysh left the international competition with four bronze medals, and a swag of Northland records in the sub-junior class.

Not bad for someone who initially hadn't thought of competing seriously in the sport.

"I never really considered it, originally it was just competing against mates and classmates to see who could lift more.

"I just wanted to get personal bests and get some medals [at the Oceania Championships], I was hoping to get a New Zealand record in the deadlift, however, I hurt my back at the gym a couple of weeks out so that didn't quite work but I still equalled my previous personal best."

Daysh added that while the New Zealand record was broken by a Hamilton lifter at the event, he was confident he could lift more once he is fully fit.

The former Whangarei Boys' High School student, who trains out of the Kensington Gym, said that while he will be leaving the region to study health science in Otago next year he would still compete.

Daysh's mum Margaret said her son's involvement in powerlifting had inspired her to get involved.

Since the Oceania Championships earlier this month, Margaret said Daysh had been taking her to the gym each day and training with her.

"It's pretty awesome, I spent the whole week with him in Auckland and I've sort of been inspired to give it a go.

"Although the weights I'm lifting are peanuts compared to him," Margaret said, alluding to Daysh's bronze medal winning 200kg deadlift, 150kg squat and 105kg benchpress.

"He's always been the littlest and puniest kid in school so he wanted to sort that out - he's not the puniest now."

Daysh is hoping to go back to the Oceania Championships next year in Melbourne, with an eye on the Commonwealth Championships in 2015.

A number of Northlanders also took part in the Oceania Championships in Auckland, results were published in yesterday's Northern Advocate.