Townsville’s claim to strongest man
IT did not take long for Le Roy Vorster to realise he would “be benching more than anybody in Australia”.
Despite what he said was a “bad meet” based off his standards in the gym, he has realised an ambition dear to his heart.
Vorster broke the Australian record for the largest competition bench press for his weight class, lifting 367.5kg in the 125kg division.
Never had the 35-year-old set about breaking records when he first became involved in strength sports.
But now with twin boys, Vorster said achieving greatest in the discipline became about more than personal glory and accolades.
He wanted to send them a message.
“When I started back at powerlifting I wanted to prove to my twin boys and wanted to show them something to one day say I was the best at something,” he said.
“It’s just that whole father figure thing, it’s literally what it was all about and why I started it. I don’t know how to explain it but it was just literally I wanted to show them that things are possible if you set your mind to it.”
As a self-described “genetically strong farm boy”, Vorster said strength was a characteristic of his DNA. But Vorster’s best is still to come.
Training out of Townsville’s Valhalla Strength gym, Vorster said the only reason he attempted an Australian
record with his first attempt at the Metal Militia Hell’s Gate competition this month was because it was well within his reach.
Traditionally, he said, an “easier” attempt came first at a competition but he pushed for the record straight away.
Initially, however, his back was against the wall. On his first attempt a spotter bumped the bar, making the lift null and void.
The second, he “locked out” and was again deemed unsuccessful.
But after 16 years of training in the sport, Vorster’s psychological edge had become as prominent as his physical strength, and it came to the fore when he needed it.
“Having failed the lift twice, it was also a very big psychological part going into that third lift knowing this is my last opportunity to set the record in this meet,” he said.
“Having put months into training for that, it was a bit unnerving but I had a good group of people around me who kept my head on straight luckily.
“I remember sitting up, and the whole crowd had been quiet, just wondering if I had got the lift.
“I looked to my right and saw the first white board, then I looked to the head judge behind me and he had a white board as well.
“As I swung around to the third judge he had a white board as well and I just basically lost it, and screamed and jumped around.
“I was really ecstatic.”
So, as Vorster prepares to take his talents to the global stage and push for the world record, just how strong is he?
“I don’t just do a little bit better in training, I’m not going to disclose the numbers because it’s like a bit of a (secret weapon),” he said with a cheeky grin.
“But it’s significantly more, and so much significantly more that it’s not just that gym lift focus, it is an actual realistic number.
“I’m looking forward to the influx of lifters coming to the sport attempting the record, because that’s usually what happens when someone breaks a record.
“New powerlifters, please train to compete. Don’t sit there and think your numbers aren’t good enough.”