A Letterkenny man has powerlifted his way to a national title.
Enda Kerrane was competing in the Amateur Irish Powerlifting Organisation Championships in Limerick when he saw off all opposition in his tested weight class of 90kg Juniors, age category 20 to 23.
The 22-year-old’s achievement is all the remarkable for the fact that he only took up the sport a year ago.
Revealing how Sunday’s competition, held in Limerick’s Southside Barbell, panned out Enda said,
“It goes by total so you do nine lifts -three squats, three benches and three deadlifts. They then add up the best of those and the person with the highest total amount lifted wins.”
In Enda’s case he lifted a total of 545kg, a staggering six times his own body weight.
A talented footballer, the Glencar man turned to powerlifting as a way of warding off the boredom of lockdown.
“I was big in to hurley and football but two years ago when Covid hit all that halted.
“I thought ‘what am I going to do with myself’ and at the time home gyms were becoming popular.
“That is what kicked it off really, lifting weights in the garage. Seeing the body changing and the numbers going up every week, I became addicted to it.”
Maintaining the physique required to be a champion powerlifter takes dedication and food, lots of food.
In the case of former Coláiste Ailigh pupil Enda, breakfast consists roughly of oatmeal, an apple, a protein shake containing more oats and two scoops of nutrient and calorie substance Mass Gainer.
Dinner is usually either half a chicken or 500g of chicken goujons with carbohydrate-providing potato waffles or chips.
“I have 500g of chicken every night, seven days per week,” he said.
Enda will be back in action in a few weeks hoping to add to his trophy tally.
Enda is studying for his bachelor’s degree in business and sport at Atlantic Technological University in Sligo. And while powerlifting does command much of his focus, there is still some down time.
“I’m a student in Sligo so there is going to be the odd pint but there is never any alcohol for at least two weeks before a competition.”
Looking ahead Enda says he is firmly committed to progressing further in his chosen discipline and promoting it.
“This is it, 100 per-cent without a shadow of a doubt. I’ll definitely be in this game for the next ten years at least,” he said.
He will be hoping to be back on the podium in six weeks time at the Irish Powerlifting Federation’s Junior and Masters National Championships.
“It’s great fun and what I like about it is that everyone cheers each other on. Obviously everyone wants to do well but there’s a real supportive atmosphere there too.”
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