Age no bar to glory for Kwinana man
Kwinana weightlifter Alan Lewis is living proof that age is merely a number — with the 84-year-old coming home from the Pacific Rim Championships with four gold medals.
The Medina man cleaned up in the masters weightlifting division at the championships on the Gold Coast in October, fending off competition from competitors from countries including the US, New Zealand and Canada.
His success added to an already impressive honours list, which includes seven State title wins, a national title and an Australian Masters Title.
Training at Olympifit in Rockingham, Lewis said he began weightlifting nine years ago after being diagnosed with cancer.
He has since credited weightlifting with saving his life, with the effects of a dramatic fall from a ladder minimised thanks to the strength and fitness he has gained from the sport.
“You’re only as old as you want to be — age is just a number,” Lewis said.
“I had cancer and my son was weightlifting and he said give it a go, it will make you feel better. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Lewis encouraged other seniors to have a go.
“Don’t take any notice of anybody else,” he said. “A lot of people will say you can’t do this or you can’t do that but you can — it’s what you want to do yourself.”
Masters weightlifting gives people over the age of 35 the chance to compete at local, national or international levels, with athletes grouped by age and weight division.
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