A POWERLIFTER has been selected to represent Great Britain at European and World championships.
Dan Worsley, of Newton Aycliffe, is in the middle of a strict five-day training regime which he is confident will see him win medals at the upcoming competitions.
The 22-year-old has only been participating in the sport for one-and-a-half years but, having already caught the eye of officials, has a real thirst for success.
Dan Worsley is training to compete in world/EU weightlifting championships this year. Picture: TOM BANKS
"I've always been into weight training, more of the look good aspect, but found that I was becoming strong and thought I would get into competing," he said.
After "falling into" powerlifting in August 2014, he entered his first regional competition the following November and in February 2015 qualified to take part in his first national competition, held in Bournemouth at the end of last October.
In Bournemouth he broke three English records for squat, bench press and overall weight lifted in his class, the under 83kg in the junior under 23s category.
He came second out of 27 and so impressed the judges that he was invited to London where last month he was asked to represent Great Britain at the World Bench Press Championships in South Africa in May.
"I was pretty happy, it was a good result as the lad who came first is world champion," added Mr Worsley. "He has now left that category so I've got big boots to fill."
The sportsman has also been crowned the 2016 unequipped British bench press champion after coming first at a competition near Lincoln on January 23.
A transport planner by trade, Mr Worsley is currently preparing for the European championships in Estonia in three weeks where he will compete in the dead lift, squat, bench press and overall weight lifted in those categories.
He hopes off the back of his anticipated success that he will go on to represent the UK in the world powerlifting championships in Texas in the summer.
"I will be successful," said Mr Worsley, who trains in the newly opened BIG Gym in Aycliffe Business Park. "My goal is for a podium finish and I want a gold medal in the dead lift.
"I've never been beaten in that and don't intend to be. It's something to focus on and I can't give up now."
Mr Worsley is completely self-funded and hopes his success will attract sponsors.
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