Powerlifting Explodes at AusFitness Expo

The Asia Pacific Championships took off in front of a standing room only crowd throughout two dynamic days at Australia’s dominant fitness trade show, AusFitness Expo.

Top lifter in the mens was Xi Tan from China, subduing Fern Cook of Nauru 790kg to 787kg in a showdown at 105kg. More big results came from Nauru, with Dyke Daoe totaling 647kg at 77kg and Angin Gadabu 712kg at 94kg. But it was Super AI Temaki who brought the house down with a near miss on 400kg Squat on the way to an 817kg Total, also for Nauru, finishing ahead of the Illustrated Man, Federico Sabelli of Italy.

Not lost in the big Totals were 20+kg improvers Ben Hogan 680kg at 94kg and Tevita Pongi 696kg as a light 120kg, now both favourites for the Aus Champs in July. Christian Stranges narrowed the gap on his nemesis Seth Snijder for the title of Oceania’s Strongest Junior, 713kg to 730kg. And at the other end of the maturity spectrum 80 year old John Yuen benched an age World Record of 90kg.

In the Womens lifting Olivia Zhang was pared down to 53kg and took out Best Lifter over Rachel Green of New Zealand. Not far behind, with an age 50-54 World Record, was Sandra Alcorn. But trying to upstage Sandra was venerable age 75-79 Junko Matsuzaki, setting Australian Records.