Pushing beyond his limits

Chris Tilley is a study of focus as he competes in the powerlifting event. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Nelson powerlifter Chris Tilley steels his gaze and claps his chalked hands together as an official makes the call.

"Load the bar to 170kg."

The 22-year-old, who is the favourite to win all three powerlifting categories at the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games in Palmerston North, waits as the bar is stacked.

Having easily completed his earlier squats of 150 and 160kg, there is an expectant but tense hush as Tilley approaches the rack to lift what is more than twice his 82.4kg frame.

He places the bar on his shoulders and waits for the command from the head referee.

"Squat!"

Tilley goes into his squat position with his coach, Nigel Burgess, closely monitoring his charge's form.

His legs begin to shake and his face reddens as Burgess tells him to go down further.

He lets out a grunt before receiving the call from Burgess and the crowd to push the weight up.

The room erupts in applause as Tilley nails his final squat and the three judges raise their white flags to confirm his success and the gold medal.

But Tilley is saving himself for more - including a 112.5kg bench press and a 210kg deadlift.

"I wasn't really going too hard out there because I want to save myself but I was a bit nervous," he said, shortly after his squat.

For Tilley, who has Asperger's's syndrome, his wins in all three events and gold for the combined weight total were reward for seven months of training and strict dieting but no surprise to his coach.

"Basically he is lifting weights which are heavier than what guys in three weight classes above him are lifting," said Burgess. "He's got good form and he can still get better."

Burgess said it was "a bit unfortunate" that Tilley could not defend the three gold medals and one silver he won at the World Special Olympics in Shanghai in 2007.

"It is a bit sad but it's all about encouraging participation and getting more people into it."

Tilley said he was looking forward to finally having a beer and time for his other passion - art - in which he has had other success. Last year he won first prize and $5000 at the IHC Telecom Art Awards for his painting The Barn.

He is planning an exhibition of his work in Nelson next year.

The seventh Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games conclude today with a closing ceremony.