Weight expectations
Ex-care home teen is targeting titles and records at world event
A TEEN strongman has overcome years of adversity in care homes to become Scotland’s newest sporting world champion.
Charlie McGonigle has smashed records for powerlifting and can deadlift almost 300kg.
The 18-year-old student will head to Boston next month to face the global sport’s elite at the World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation Championships.
Charlie has set his sights on outperforming Icelandic strongman legend Hafthor “Thor” Björnsson, who plays Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane in Game of Thrones.
He said: “I go to the Physique and Power Gym in the east end of Glasgow. The club is only about a year old and we have 15 lifters from all walks of life.
“I’m very happy to be competing in the world championships as I come from a children’s care home background.
“At the age of 11, I was moved in to care. But I knew I wanted to do something with my life and one of my carers said I should have a look at powerlifting. I haven’t looked back. Powerlifting has transformed my life. I only started two years ago and never thought I would come so far.
“I look up to people like Hafthor Bjornsson but I want to be better than them.”
Charlie started training for the Scottish Championships in August last year. He won his weight and age class and also set Scottish records in all his lifts.
At the British Championships in February, he won his age and weight category and set world records with his lifts.
Four other lifters from his gym will also be heading to Boston – firefighter Liam Curran, Zac Murray, 18, who triumphed at this year’s British Championships, police officer Bernie Cuninghame, 38, the defending world champion in the women’s 90kg class, and Police Scotland IT worker Karen Dalziel, 39, the British champion in the women’s 63kg class.
Charlie added: “We’re all confident we’re going to win all the age and weight classes we are in.”