A finance director from Bradley Stoke has just scooped the triple crown in powerlifting at the World Championships in the United States as a member of the prestigious Team GB.
Steven Forshaw coaches himself and mostly trains in a modest gym that he has constructed in his garage at home. However, this autumn he won the gold medal at the World Championship in Idaho Falls, which came hot on the heels of winning gold at the European Championships in Poland in the summer, and winning gold at the British Championships in Bolton in the spring.
Despite this, less than a decade ago Steven was recovering from full knee reconstruction following a devastating football injury that left him needing to learn how to walk again and unable to put weight through his knee initially. That injury was in 2016 and it was only 2020 when Steven discovered powerlifting.
Explaining the difference between powerlifting and other weight lifting sports, Steven explains: “Power lifting is the pure aesthetic strength sport version of being in the gym. So literally how much weight you can move from A to B. You have three specific lifts: the squat, the bench press and the deadlift.”
Steven may not be the first person to win gold in all three championships but it’s still a very rare feat and definitely something to shout about, especially considering that he achieved a personal best in the weight lifted while he did it: lifting 270 kilos in Poland and closer to 280 kilos in the United States.
Looking back upon his achievements this year, Steven says: “It feels completely surreal, it’s been a completely whirlwind season. I’d set out with the goal to push myself and I really felt that this year I could qualify for the British and the European championships because you’ve got to hit certain numbers to even get invited. I’ve now gone far and beyond those hopes and won all the titles back to back. So it’s a really special feeling being able to bring those gold medals back home and celebrate with my family.”
Alongside all of his training, competing and travelling, back here in Bradley Stoke Steven works full-time as a finance director. He has also recently returned to university, where he is studying for his master’s degree in sport and exercise science having qualified as a strength and conditioning coach during the summer with a look at perhaps considering a career change further down the line.