Bernard Collins (class of 1951, 1944 joiner) has been taking the powerlifting scene by storm with his new achievements. This August, Bernard received an "Acknowledgement of Achievement" by World Powerlifting New Zealand at the National Championships in Auckland for the superb bench press of 74kg at the astonishing age of 91! This makes him only one of two people over the age of 85 to achieve this prestigious award by the organisation. 

However, this is not Bernard's first claim to fame in the lifting world. His journey started back in 2017, whilst doing a routine workout, Bernard was approached by a coach at the Powerlifting Club and encouraged to participate. When he was informed that he would become the first person over 80 in Australasia to compete, he thought to himself, "Why not?" 

After training vigorously for six months, Bernard competed in the New Zealand National Bench Press Championships Master 5 class (for lifters 80 years and older). He achieved an admirable lift of 67.5kg and won the national gold medal! But more importantly Bernard became the first man in New Zealand to be brave and bold enough to compete in the over 80 category! 

His achievement set the standard for future competitors in that class. After his victory, Bernard said it was a "bit of a mystery" that there had not been any lifters in the Master 5 class despite there being "numerous 70-year-plus lifters" and "other 80-plus year-olds who regularly do weight and power lifting" and he hoped that his superb performance had "encouraged them to do." 

In 2020, Bernard also became the first 80+ year old in Australasia to compete in the Oceania Championships. And his achievements did not stop there. 

In August 2023 Bernard was Australasia and Oceania's first 90-year-old participant in the World Powerlifting Championship and lifted an extraordinary 84kg. Bernard has credited his success in his powerlifting career to his "no excuse attitude," and when interviewed by AM Show NZ, he said his goal was to "push 90(kg) before he runs out of 90." 

Throughout his life in the UK, Hong Kong and New Zealand, Bernard has been involved in numerous sports, such as football, cricket, tennis, rugby, lawn bawls, squash, golf and more! For the last 30 years, he has been doing a daily one-hour training session in the gym. This sporting aptitude has clearly helped Bernard recover from a spinal surgery in September 2023 and breaking his femur in November 2023. Despite having to be in a stroller for 12 months and learning to walk again, he managed to carry on Bench Press and will compete again at the Oceania Championships this coming December. 

When interviewed for this article, Bernard explained "I do not consider myself as doing anything exceptional. My attitude goes back to my schooldays! Latymer has a lot to answer for! Latymer teachers impressed upon you the philosophy of learning the value of doing your best at everything you attempted and that, if you did so, you would gain self-satisfaction, success and happiness. It is this philosophy that I have adhered to all my life albeit sub consciously." 

Bernard's sporting commitments and resilience are really a lesson for us all. His story proves that age is not enough to stop us reaching new heights and should inspire Latymerians to keep on chasing new dreams and goals no matter what they are!