"You're never too old to be an athlete," says Alan Gutteridge at 74 years old.
A world champion powerlifter who has not been in the gym for more than 20 years is hitting the weights again - and has his sights set on a record.
Alan Gutteridge, 74, broke a world record in his weight category in the 1990s, when he achieved a 145kg (319lbs) bench press.
He went on to secure multiple titles until injuries halted his career and he eventually stopped going to the gym.
But Mr Gutteridge, from Shepshed in Leicestershire, has now returned to the gym in a bid to "get fit again" - and hopes to break a new record in his age category next year.
Mr Gutteridge's started lifting weights from a young age, after he was told by doctors that exercise should help his asthma.
He was bought some light weights by his dad to begin with, before he joined a powerlifting club when he turned 18.
"I was doing so well," Mr Gutteridge said. "So I kept going."
Some of his early achievements included winning the Leicestershire Powerlifting Championship in 1984 and qualifying for the British Men's Powerlifting Championship.
Mr Gutteridge said he was working full-time at a brickworks seven days a week, while also training at the gym five times a week.
"The brickworks actually sponsored me, which was great," he recalled.
The athlete joined the British Drug Free Association and won gold at the World Powerlifting Championships in Chicago in 1989.
However, his success came to a halt in 1996 as he was getting ready for a competition in Australia, when he suffered an injury during training.
"I had to go to the hospital, it was the disc in my back," he said. "It was terrible. I had to miss out on the World Championship in Australia."
He stopped competing due to injuries, but kept going to the gym in his 40s for a few years.
'Never too old'
Now, after more than two decades, the powerlifter has decided to hit the weights again.
"I got back to the gym and started with some light weights, then moved on to the bench press and I could lift 70kg," he said.
"I love it. I trained for 35 years - it's nice to be back.
"[People in the gym] watch me and they say 'you are doing well'.
"I'm excited about powerlifting. I have lots of friends in the powerlifting community saying 'it's nice to see you back again'."
He said more people should get into powerlifting, but advised them to be cautious, find a good gym and employ a trainer to learn the techniques.
"It's a good sport," he added. "You're never too old to be an athlete."
Mr Gutteridge will be competing in the 75-79 age category when he makes his attempt, meaning he would have to break the current world record of 85kg for the unequipped bench press lift.
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Category: General Sports
