Powerlifter to shine in expo

BIG LIFT: Brett Gibbs on his way to a world title in South Africa, breaking world record and obtaining gold.PHOTO/FILE

Masterton's Brett Gibbs will be in esteemed company when he contests a competition run by Powerlifting Australia at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre next month.

The Australian powerlifting championships plus a special international invitation-only event are part of the Fitness and Health Expo, the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

Over 100 of Powerlifting Australia's top competitors will compete over the three days (April 10, 11 and 12) and it is expected that more than 30,000 people will be on hand to watch the action.

As a special highlight on the Saturday the International Pacific Invitational will showcase some of the strongest men and women in the world. They have been invited to compete in Melbourne specifically to tackle all-time records.

Gibbs was a star act at the IPF Class Powerlifting world championships in South Africa last year. Competing in the 83kg junior class he broke world records with each of his squat lifts with the best of them being 280kg. He also won gold with a deadlift of 305.5kg and a bronze with a bench lift of 185kg and his overall total of 770.5kg placed Gibbs all of 50.5kg ahead of his closest rival.

The focus for Gibbs in Melbourne will be to better his squat world record of 280kg.

Other lifters in the invitation event will include:-

- Jezza Upea (Nauru): Upea is the world record holder in the super heavyweight division with his world squat record sitting at a remarkable 413kg. He is labelled the Strongest Man in the World and will be attempting to break his squat record at this event.

-Matt Baller (United States): Baller is the world record holder for the super heavyweight bench press and will be aiming to extend that record here.

-Elnez Tofa (New Zealand): Tofa is a relative newcomer on the international scene but has already unofficially broken Baller's super heavyweight bench press record. He is looking to not only beat the American here but set a new world record in the process.

Then there are three well-performed Australians, Elizabeth Craven and Alix Newton, who are the two highest-ranked female powerlifters across the Tasman and Colin Wenn, who has a world ranking of seven in his division.

Powerlifting Australia chief executive Robert Wilks said the expo provided the only opportunity in Australia to see this type of talent come together in the one room.

"The men and women competing are amongst the best in the world in the sport. For spectators, this will be an exciting showcase of talent as the best go up against each other and the record books."