Powerlifter tipped for world glory after becoming a special Olympic champion
By ADAM LAZZARI POWERLIFTER Tom Baty won two gold and two silver medals at the Special Olympics but his trainer believes his best his yet to come. Mr Baty, 25, from Wisbech represented the Eastern Region at the UK Special Olympics in Leicester. He won go
By ADAM LAZZARI
POWERLIFTER Tom Baty won two gold and two silver medals at the Special Olympics but his trainer believes his best his yet to come.
Mr Baty, 25, from Wisbech represented the Eastern Region at the UK Special Olympics in Leicester.
He won gold in the bench press and overall, for his three best efforts in the three disciplines, and silver in the squat and deadlift.
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He trains at the Ironworks Gym, Wisbech.
Gym owner Martin Green, a former Eastern Counties champion, said: "Olympic glory is as good as it gets for most sportsmen and women, but Tom has not even touched his potential yet.
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"I've been pushing Tom hard over the last six months and seen a massive improvement - he's been smashing his personal bests.
"The World Championships are in Greece in a couple of years and if he keeps working hard he has a great chance of becoming a world champion."
Mr Baty, who has Down's syndrome, competed in the senior 82.5kg class.
He lifted 85kg to win gold in the bench press and his overall gold came for his combined total of 402.5kg, a 27.5kg improvement on his previous personal best.
He lifted more than twice his body weight with 172.5kg to win a silver medal in the deadlift, destroying his previous competition personal best of 155kg, and achieved 145kg to win silver in the squat.
Tom's father and coach Richard Baty said: "Tom always trains hard and this win is not only for himself, but for all of those who have helped and supported him, especially Martin Green and the members of Ironworks Gym.
"We are all really proud of Tom's achievement, which is quite extraordinary by any standards.
"We would like to thank Wisbech Lions, FENDIS and Cambridgeshire Mencap for providing financial assistance to enable Tom to compete in the Special Olympics.
