The former Royal Marine from Exmouth has proven that age is not a barrier to success after setting a new world record in recent competition.
Paul Collinson, 61, hit the new world record of 166 kg at the UK single lift championship earlier this year.
In 2024 he secured British, European and world records at 160kg, increasing it to 165kg at the World Championships.
Paul said, “People who look at me and don’t know me, who think I’m an old man with a beard in the gym, knowing that I can bench press twice as much as I can bench pressing what I can do,” says Paul.
Paul said his goal is to improve his personal best and see how far he can go personally. But he also found exercise good for older people.
He said: “Physically, it helps to waste muscle. It stops it. It helps to the strength of the ligaments and prevents people from falling steadily.
“You don’t have to be a world champion to do physical exercise. It also stimulates your mental health side.”
Paul said his next ambition was to maintain the world title in Rome in June, and he hoped that his world record would also be pushed a little more.
