Narrabri boy Clayton Johannesen is ready to take on the world following a breakout maiden year in the sport of powerlifting.
The 19-year-old, who relocated from Narrabri to Maitland in November last year to chase his dream, is eyeing off a spot at the world championships and hopes to one day compete in the sport as a professional.
Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts, which include squat, benchpress, and deadlift.
Powerlifters compete across different federations, one of which is the Global Powerlifting Committee that the Narrabri boy competes under.
Johannesen, a former soccer player, took up his new sport in February last year and made an immediate impact when he lined up at his first comp and broke three national GPC records.
That competition was hosted by Hunter Strength and Performance in Beresfield, where the Narrabri boy became the record holder in the squat with a 125kg lift, benchpress with an 80kg lift, and the deadlift with a 130kg lift, all in the 16-17-years under-56kg division.
He also came away from the event with a coach, with owner/director and the head strength coach of the gym Leroy Scott offering to take him under his wing.
Johannesen then attended the GPC Australian Powerlifting Nationals at Rucci’s Gym in Perth last September where he broke two national records and three world records.
He went up an age group at that event as he lined up in the 18-19-years under-56kg division for the first time.
At his debut national champs, he set world and national records in the squat with 150kg, world and national records in benchpress with 95.5kg, and a world record in deadlift with 175kg.
“I didn’t know I could go for those records ‘til I got there on the day and my coach told me I could get them,” Johannesen told The Courier.
“It was probably one of my proudest moments.
“Just getting to be there and having all the hard work pay off was good.
“It feels good to now hold eight records and I want to get to 10 soon.”
The Narrabri boy’s improvement in just seven months in the sport had left him determined to strive for more in 2023.
Lifting his squat PB from 125kg to 150kg, his benchpress from 85kg to 95.5kg, and his deadlift from 130kg to 175kg gave him more confidence that he can succeed in powerlifting.
He is now eyeing off the GPC NSW States in June, which will be hosted by Hunter Strength and Performance.
He will step up a weight class at that event when he competes in the 18-19-years 60kg division, and he is training to secure three more national records. He will then compete at nationals at Wallsend in August, and hopes to earn a spot at the 2023 GPC World Championships, which will be held in October over in Hungary.
“Training is basically the same as last year at the moment,” he said.
“Four times training a week doing my lifts, and each week I get heavier and heavier until I max out for the comp.”
The Narrabri boy said he owed a lot to his coach Leroy Scott, who he said has helped him reach his potential.
“Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to get the records at nationals,” he said.
“He’s been a big help.”
Looking beyond 2023, Johannessen hopes to one day switch over to the International Powerlifting Federation, which he described as the best federation in the world.
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