WATCH: Panorama School teacher breaks world record in dead-lift
In the bench category he achieved 160kg, which is equivalent to the national record, followed by his 240kg performance in the squat category.
Despite a neurologist telling him he would never be able to play sport again after a brain procedure in 2001, Johan Steenkamp (49) broke the World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) record for a dead-lift of 286kg.
This Kempton Panorama School woodwork teacher competed in the championships from November 6-10 in Lahti, Finland. He competed in the squat, bench and dead-lift categories.
In the bench category he achieved 160kg, which is equivalent to the national record, followed by his 240kg performance in the squat category.
“With the squat I was aiming at 250kg for my opening lift, but when it got to 220kg my body was cramping up and I knew I was in trouble. My opening squat was 240kg, which placed me in the lead.”
He told Express how he was born with an enlarged blood vessel of about 3cm in the periphery of his brain. He said for years, at times, it would cause speech impediments as he would struggle to vocalise his thoughts. That was how he noticed something was wrong.
“I have been prepping for this championship and the WPC national championships since January. My fitness goal in general was to become world champion because what you put in is what you get out.”
He said he trained every day alongside his training partners by starting in the gym and working out for three hours.
When asked about his diet, he said: “Luckily, my son is also a bodybuilding fanatic, so he worked out my eating plan. I would have three days of eating protein and two days of eating carbs, and repeat it.
“Finland was freezing, but so beautiful,” he said. “Obviously, Finland is a wonderfully well-organised first-world country, although I really couldn’t stand the cold weather.
“Luckily, their gymnasium was well heated and insulated, as the cold has a definite influence on one’s performance since your muscles have to be kept warm.”
He said the Finland championships had a healthy, sporty vibe, as there was no politics involved and competitors hung out during the competition.
