A 73-year-old Iluka man who says he became “stuck in paradise” during Covid lockdowns has gained a new lease on life by training at Bodyrock Fitness which recently led to him setting an Australian Powerlifting record in his first competition.
When they could escape Victoria following the first Covid lockdown, Grant “Riley” Oppy and his wife hit the road travelling around Australia, and when they stopped at Iluka and the next lockdown in Victoria was announced, he hit the gym and found friends with mutual interests.
The former Richmond VFL player and coach said he struck up a friendship with Bodyrock Fitness owner, Tom Griffiths, who encouraged and inspired him to pursue powerlifting.
Mr Riley said he had seen the health of so many people decline after they retire, so he was determined to enjoy his life in the “paradise” that is Iluka.
“Being an older person, I didn’t want to end up like a lot of my mates, who are compromised and not able to do a lot of things, so I decided to go back to the gym,” he said.
“Tommy encouraged me, he said powerlifting would probably suit you, it’s an extreme sport that tests you out.
“I had been back in the gym training for four years, but it was only in the last 12 months I got more serious, I joined Powerlifting Australia and started lifting heavy weights.”
Grant and his wife fell in love with life on the mouth of the Clarence River, so they bought somewhere to live at Iluka and travel back to Melbourne regularly to visit family.
After 12 months of solid training four days per week, Grant was ready for his first powerlifting competition in the over 104kg Masters Division 70 to 73 years age group in the Asia Pacific Games, at the Australian Fitness Expo in Melbourne last month.
There he took to the stage and set a new Australian record of 187kg, breaking the previous record which had stood for more than 15 years.
“For me to lift what I did I had to dedicate myself to training,” he said.
“I train with a lot of younger people at the gym and for me it is really invigorating.
“In training I had lifted close to the Australian record of 187kg but it’s much different in competition because if you don’t lift correctly in competition in becomes a no lift.
Grant said the coach plays a vital role in powerlifting, guiding competitors through each step of the process.
“My powerlifting coach said whatever you lift in training, you’ll lift better in competition because of the adrenaline involved and the excitement of the competition atmosphere,” he said.
Since joining Powerlifting Australia and competing, Grant said the sport had seen him meet new, likeminded friends and given him a revitalised outlook on life.
“The big thing is that it regenerates you, I’m probably stronger now than I was years ago when I played footy for Richmond, I just don’t feel so old,” he said.
“I met a lot of great people at the Asia Pacific Games who were powerlifting, from a female Supreme Court judge to doctors and lawyers.”
Grant said he is now in training for the Australian Powerlifting Championships to be held in Brisbane on the weekend of July 13 and 14, where he hopes to lift heavier than 187kg.
“Going to the gym gives me a great purpose for getting out of bed in the morning and training with a great bunch of blokes at Bodyrock Fitness Iluka,” he said.
“I am in training for the Australian Powerlifting Championships where I hope to lift 200kg and break my previous best lift.”
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 8 May 2024.
