Darlington power lifter Steven Grey broke his back a decade ago but next month he bids for world gold. The Army staff sergeant based at the Arm Foundation College in Harrogate, has been selected as part of the Great Britain squad for the World Championships which is being held in Las Vegas. And next year his eyes will be firmly fixed on gaining glory at the Euopean Championships.

Grey, responsible for training recruits, is a physical education instructor, and has been the British champion for the past five years and the World and European bench press title holder.

He also gained a Eurpopean bronze at the World Championships in Canada last year and was again the bench master, lifting gold.

His interest in lifting all began when he was recovering from his back injury while serving with the Junior Leaders' Regiment, Royal Engineers, the incident happening during a display team show in front of 6,000 people.

The 5ft. 5in. 9st Grey, who can lift three times his own body weight, explained: "As part of my recovery programme I used weights to build up my back which I broke while doing gymnastics.

"I broke the back in three places and the doctors sent me to a rehabilitation centre and I moved on to weights which began my interest in the sport - and in my first competition I broke all British records."

He trains in the Health and Fitness Studio in Bondgate, Darlington, the centre run by the father and son partnership of Alan and Shane Potts