He is now just months away from competing in his biggest competition yet.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Powerlifting is made up of three lifts: the back squat, the bench press, and the deadlift.<\/p>\n
Stoddart said each lift required him to lock in, concentrate, and remain in control.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Following that, he was encouraged to apply for the Fiji competition and was accepted.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo pull on a Silver Fern at my age for my adopted country is a fantastic honour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stoddart wanted others to know it wasn\u2019t too late to take on a new challenge, because he was \u201cthe old dog that learned new tricks\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stopped drinking alcohol, I stopped eating processed food, pies, cakes, high-carb stuff, cut out sugar altogether and then I thought, \u2018what am I going to do for exercise?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Stoddart said he wanted to be healthy, to see his grandchildren grow up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t easy, because I love a pie and I used to like a beer.\u201d<\/p>\n
He first tried powerlifting about 12 years ago, but didn\u2019t touch it again until 2024.<\/p>\n
Sandy Stoddart hopes others will be inspired by his fitness journey and take on a new challenge no matter their age. Photo \/ Michaela Gower<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a Christian guy, I thought God\u2019s really working on my life here; he has brought me back to this, and I have got no injuries at 71.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the research says that doing resistance training in your older years is very beneficial, and I have found it very beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stoddart said he now had no issues with heart health: blood pressure is perfect, his body fat had reduced, and lean muscle had increased.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason I like the sport is not just for the weight side of it, and it\u2019s the personal challenge; it\u2019s just you and the bar.\u201d<\/p>\n