A former Dargaville man has lifted his way to an Oceania record with a 300kg deadlift in the Oceania Powerlifting Championships.
Jonathan Radich's lift at the championships held in Apia, Samoa on December 10-11 beat the previous record by 9.5kg, setting a new national record and winning him the gold for
the 110kg junior class.
Selected as one of the New Zealand Powerlifting team, Radich, 23, achieved a 305kg squat, 195kg benchpress and with the 300kg deadlift, a total of 800kg.
An 800kg total as a junior has not been seen in New Zealand for over 10 years.
Last year he was fifth in the Junior World championships in Brazil and is currently contemplating lifting at the 2011 Commonwealth Powerlifting champs in South Africa.
Radich has a track record of very successful lifting, holding many Northland and Auckland records. He received the 2009 Northland sports award for powerlifting and was a code winner in 2008.
He grew up and attended school in Dargaville but is now living and working as a web designer in Auckland.
He returns home regularly to his parents farm in Tangowahine.
He originally got a lot of help and encouragement from local lifter Brian Froggatt, but since going to Auckland has undergone his own training regime.
"I entered a novice competition in Auckland and built on that, winning the Auckland Championships in the 100kg weight class in 2008," Radich said.
Since that event he has contested in the 110kg division and is described as a very committed sportsperson.
"This (the Oceania championships) is my last competition as a junior - from now on I will be contesting in the open 24-40 years of age class."
Radich intends to compete in the Auckland Championships in March and the National Championships in August before deciding whether to travel to South Africa at the end of the year.
