Fenland powerlifter set for Special Olympics as 140,000kg lift raises �1,000

MEMBERS of a Wisbech gym bench pressed a combined total of 140,000kg to help send powerlifting sensation Tom Baty to the Special Olympics in Athens next year.

MEMBERS of a Wisbech gym bench pressed a combined total of 140,000kg to help send powerlifting sensation Tom Baty to the Special Olympics in Athens next year.

Tom, who trains twice a week at Ironworks Gym, has been chosen for the Special Olympic powerlifting squad but needs to raise �3,000.

Members’ target was to lift the weight of the plane that will take Tom to Athens - 70,000kg - by taking it in turns to bench press a 60kg weight.

However, once the total was reached members bench pressed another 70,000kg to bring Tom home again. They raised more than �1,000 in the process.

Richard Baty, Tom’s father and coach, said: “The members were absolutely brilliant. Lifting 140,000 kilos in one morning is quite an achievement. Tom is delighted to be part of a great gym and would like to thank everyone who supported him and sponsored the lift.

“Our thanks should go to Martin Green, the gym owner, and Mags who helped to organise the event and also did some tremendous lifting themselves.”

Tom started the event by lifting the 60kg bar as many times as he could, and Mr Baty said: “Everyone involved pushed themselves to the limit; Robbie Chapman lifted the bar 71 times in one go, closely followed by Nick Okerika with 66 reps.

“Not to be outdone, the women also lifted superbly with Lorna Robinson succeeding with 35 reps at 30kg. The members cheered as Tom met his target with the final lift.”

Tom, 26, who has Downs Syndrome, won gold at the UK Special Olympics last year and recently came second in his weight class at his first mainstream competition, the Anglian Championships, where he achieved a 140kg squat lift, 90kg bench press and 160kg dead lift.