Powerlifter Arram sets world record

3:41pm Wednesday 12th December 2007

POWER LIFTING

A BUCKHURST Hill man has reached the summit of powerlifting only two years after he took up the sport.

Last month, Arram Eghoyan, 23, travelled to Torreon in Mexico to take part in just his second competition, the World Power Lifting championships.

The relative newcomer went as part of the Great Britain team, and justified his inclusion in the squad by triumphing in the junior category, with lifts of 215kg in the squat section, 165.5kg in the bench press, and 230kg in the deadlift.

In a separate bout he set a new world record when he bench pressed 170kg (473Ib).

He described the process of lifting the equivalent of an adult male lion.

"When I lift, I zone out. It's an autonomous action. Once under the bar you do not think, you just do."

The three lifts are what differentiates powerlifting from weightlifting.

Also, the object is not to lift the weight above the head as in the latter. Powerlifting is more a judge of raw power.

The bench press is widely considered the benchmark of a person's ultimate strength.

The sport is not professional and Eghoyan runs a personal training business. To book a training session with him, email: arrameghoyan@hotmail.co.uk

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