He is now just months away from competing in his biggest competition yet.
Stoddart, who spends five days a week training at Flex Fitness gym in Hastings, will represent New Zealand at the Oceania Regional Powerlifting Championships in the Masters Four under 120kg category in Fiji in November.
Powerlifting is made up of three lifts: the back squat, the bench press, and the deadlift.
Stoddart said each lift required him to lock in, concentrate, and remain in control.
He said he holds records in the Wellington Central Powerlifting Association Masters Four under-105kg and Masters Four under-120kg categories, and recently came second at the nationals in the Masters Four under-105kg.
Following that, he was encouraged to apply for the Fiji competition and was accepted.
“To pull on a Silver Fern at my age for my adopted country is a fantastic honour.”
Stoddart wanted others to know it wasn’t too late to take on a new challenge, because he was “the old dog that learned new tricks”.
“I stopped drinking alcohol, I stopped eating processed food, pies, cakes, high-carb stuff, cut out sugar altogether and then I thought, ‘what am I going to do for exercise?’”
Stoddart said he wanted to be healthy, to see his grandchildren grow up.
“It wasn’t easy, because I love a pie and I used to like a beer.”
He first tried powerlifting about 12 years ago, but didn’t touch it again until 2024.
Sandy Stoddart hopes others will be inspired by his fitness journey and take on a new challenge no matter their age. Photo / Michaela Gower
“Being a Christian guy, I thought God’s really working on my life here; he has brought me back to this, and I have got no injuries at 71.
“All the research says that doing resistance training in your older years is very beneficial, and I have found it very beneficial.”
Stoddart said he now had no issues with heart health: blood pressure is perfect, his body fat had reduced, and lean muscle had increased.
“The reason I like the sport is not just for the weight side of it, and it’s the personal challenge; it’s just you and the bar.”
A Givealittle page has been created to help Stoddart pay for competition-related costs.
His daughter in Greece is also fundraising from her petting zoo.
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.