Power Attic Gym member Kevin Stirling wins the World Drug Free Power lifting Championship in Edinburgh Scotland. Congratulations Kevin.

Veteran strongman
sets three Canadian
records, ties another

By Mark Malone

The Chatham Daily News

WALLACEBURG - Kevin
Stirling was in a class by himself at
the world drug-free powerlifting
championships.

His return to the sport after an
absence of almost 10 years was
rewarded last week in Edinburgh,
Scotland, with a first-place trophy
and three Canadian records

"Very satisfyirg," said Stiring,
47, of Wallaceburg. "My only goal
was to do better than I had previ-
ously done. That was my only goal.
I was just happy to be there."

He turned out to be the only
lifter among 45-49 year-old men in
the 82,5-kilogram class — not that
he cared.

"You're constantly pushing your-
self," he said 'You don't care about
the next guy. That doesn't mean
anything, You only care about what
you're going to do."

And if anyone thinks the lack of
competition detracts from his victo-
ry, consider his assault on the
record books,

Strling set new national marks
in the squat. (170 kg) and bench
press (115 kg) and also tied the
record in the dead lift (195 kg). His
combined total of 480 kilograms, or
1,056 pounds, is also a new
Canadian record for his age group.

He had previously set all four
Canadian records in July at the
national championships in Taber,
Alta.

All the records were achieved in
unassisted, or raw, lifting. That
means no knee wraps and no specially

designed suits or shirts, all of
which can improve a lifter's total
performance by as much as 90 kilograms.

Stirling said comparing unassisted and assisted lifting is like
comparing the equipment in rugby
and North American football.

"It's like a different game." he
said.

The ex-owner of the Nautilus
gym in Chatham began lifting 35
years ago, though he gave up the
sport for almost a decade. He was
lured back in September 2000
when old friend Rick Freeman
asked Stirling to help him train.

Soon, Stirling's competitive
juices were flowing again.

"I think after he went to a couple
competitions with me and saw
some of the old lifters he used to lift
against, he knew he could be competitive and make a comeback,"
said Freeman, 31, of Dresden.

"I always liked it," Stirling said,
"It's kind of neat to see how far you
can go, just like anything else. You
still have the I-can-do-it attitude."

The arrangement has worked
out well forr both training partners.
Freeman a former bodybuilder,
won the 2000 Ontario intermediate
championship at 125 kilograms
(375 pounds).

And, Stirling said, "he's got
another three, four years before he
even comes close to his potential."

Stirling sees room for himself to
improve, too. He's beaten the world
squat record of 182.5 kilograms in
the gym and e is confident he can
do it at a competition, if he stays in
his current weight class.

He still gets a kick from out lifting the young guys who call him
Dad at Wallaceburg's Power Attic
Gym

"I want to do this until I drop,"
he said

Freeman will compete Dec. 8 in
Guelph at the Ontario bench-press
championships. He's aiming far a
top-three finish

Sirling also wants them both to
go to the Canadians next year-




KEVIN STIRLING,  IS WORLD POWER LIFTING CHAMP
...and training partner Kick Freeman is an ex-Ontario champ. Both are members at Wallaceburg's Power Attic Gym
 Kevin has been a member of the Power Attic Gym for over 10 years and assists other members with Power lifting Techniques.