Year 11 pupil Ayaan succeeds at British Bench Press Championships

Well done to year 11 pupil, Ayaan, on his outstanding achievement at the British Classic Bench Press Championships! He secured victory in the U16 U59kg category and set a new British record, lifting an astounding 115.5kg in both the U16 and U18 categories.

Ayaan spoke about his training routine: “I train for 1.5 to 2 hours, 4x a week and I ensure that I never miss a day, even on the tough days where all I want to do is sleep or relax. Even on holidays when I am abroad, I always get a session in because I’m a strong believer in the phrase of “hard work always pays off” and so, I believe consistency is the key to success, regardless of what it is you want to achieve. As a part of my training regime, I also follow a strict diet in terms of calories and content, sticking to a protein heavy diet. The diet becomes stricter in the run up to a competition to ensure that I maintain my weight. This can become a little tedious and I enjoy eating all my favourite food after each competition”.

He also discussed the positive effects of the competition pressure: “I enjoy competing because it allows me to push myself to the limits – see what the human body is capable of achieving, it allows me to show the world that despite my young age I can achieve just as much if not more than those who are 17, or even 18 years old, which is demonstrated by the fact that I have been selected for the U18 Team GB squad. I unfortunately had to turn down my spot to the World Championships due to clashes with my GCSE examinations this year, but I have accepted the offer to the European Championships, which I am really looking forward to. I love competing and enjoy the rush of adrenaline that you feel before you attempt a weight you could only dream of lifting in the past – it truly is an unmatched feeling”.