International powerlifter showing both brains and brawn

A determined Teesside University student has needed both physical and mental strength to power through the ranks and become an international athlete.

Andrew Richardson had hopes of becoming a professional rugby player before injury put a premature end to his career.

But the tenacious teenager, originally from Coleraine in Northern Ireland, didn’t let that get in the way of his sporting ambitions. Instead he took up powerlifting and is now competing at international level.

Andrew, 19, is set to represent Ireland at the World Drug Free Powerlifting Championships in Glasgow next month.

Since taking up powerlifting just over one year ago, Andrew has already competed in a number of competitions – never finishing outside the top three.

'Rugby was my chosen sport but I got injured and wasn’t able to play anymore,' explained Andrew, who is currently in the first year of his BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise (Applied Sports Science).

'I have always been quite strong and decided to give powerlifting a go. I found out I was quite good at it and was determined to turn a negative into a positive.

'Naturally I am a competitive person and I want to win every time I compete. It makes me feel really proud to be representing my country and the aim is to keep pushing myself to go as far as I can in the sport.'

Andrew decided to come to Teesside University as he also has future ambitions to become a strength and conditioning coach and his undergraduate course will enable him to progress to an MSc Strength and Conditioning.

He has been impressed with the University’s gym facilities which he now uses to train on a daily basis and also plans to set up a Teesside powerlifting team in the future.

Andrew added: 'It has only been a few weeks so far but I feel really at home here. The course is going well and the facilities are fantastic. “With my powerlifting going so well and the course at Teesside being exactly what I wanted, I am definitely looking forward to the next few years.'

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