When he was younger, Oakford resident Paul Speering never imagined he’d become a World Powerlifting Champion.
But in October this year, at the age of 45, that’s just what he did.
He was born a sprinter, and one of his proudest moments was being named the fastest 12-year-old in Australia in spite of his diminutive stature.
But as he got older, life (and injuries) got in the way and he eventually stepped away from sprinting.
He dabbled in a few different sports to fill the void before discovering lifting at his local gym.
“When I first joined that powerlifting group, I remember feeling an immediate sense of belonging again,” he said.
“And what began as a way to keep fit after my athletics days, evolved into an almost all-consuming passion that’s taken me further than I ever expected.
“My experience in sprinting gave me an edge in terms of discipline, mental focus, and the ability to tap into short bursts of energy—skills that naturally translated into lifting.”
And over the course of a decade, he challenged himself, growing stronger and more ambitious each year.
But his path to the World Championships this year wasn’t as smooth as he’d hoped.
He had to push through a lung infection and several shoulder injuries – one from wrangling an alpaca – in order to take to the noisy, crowded stage in Sydney to fight for the world title.
“The energy in the room, the weight of expectations, and the thrill of competition pushed me to my limits,” he said.
And he pushed through to clear successful lifts in each of the three powerlifting categories and clinch that gold medal.
“If the stars align, I’ll be back in 2025 to defend my title—this time in Sri Lanka,” he said.
But after being crowned a World Powerlifting Champion, he is now flexing more than just his muscles in a bid to create a more inclusive future for strength training in the local area.
Paul is spearheading a fundraising initiative to purchase a para powerlifting bench for Oakford’s Castle FY Powerlifting Club – a vital piece of equipment designed to accommodate athletes with disabilities.
“There are over 1000 people with disabilities living in our shire alone, yet the resources available to them for adaptive strength training are incredibly limited,” Paul said.
“The para powerlifting bench would be a game-changer for these individuals, providing them with the opportunity to build their upper body strength – which is crucial for wheelchair mobility, transfers and independent living – and train on purpose-built equipment.
“Having one of these benches in a community-based organisation like ours would mean it’s truly accessible to everyone.”
To fund the project, Paul is exploring a range of options, including applying for a local government grant, but is also rallying the community to help ensure the project becomes a reality.
Paul has launched an Air Curl campaign—where supporters can purchase digital ‘Air Curls’ for $5 each. For every digital curl purchased, Paul has pledged to perform and record a real bicep curl, posting the videos on the Castle FY Facebook page for all to see.
“This isn’t just about equipment; it’s about breaking barriers and creating opportunities for everyone to experience the joy and empowerment that strength training can bring,” Paul said.
To get involved, visit https://castlefy.org/products/air-curls to purchase an air curl or learn more.
