How powerlifting can help troubled youths
Gawain Alexander Johnstone is an athlete with an imposing figure. The powerlifter attracts so much attention wherever he goes and with good reason — he is one of the best in the sport. But aside from looking to earn more accolades in his competitions, he wants to grow the sport all over the world.
He has played nearly every sport there is: Australian Rules Football, American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Ten Pin Bowling, Cricket, Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting and even E-sports.
But powerlifting is his love and his passion.
Philippine STAR: How did you start out in the sport?
Gawain Alexander Johnstone: I was always intrigued by strength and muscle. As a child, I was a big WWE and Arnold Schwarzenegger fan. So, I was always fascinated by big strong, powerful characters. I started lifting weights with my dad to be big and cool like him and Hulk Hogan. I started training with my dad, and eventually began training with a friend to do a powerlifting competition, and the rest is history.
Can you share with us your training regimen?
I do some sort of training everyday, whether it be lifting or a form of cardio, it’s a mental checklist for myself now. I tick the box I’ve physically invested in myself and I move on to the next task for the day. In season, I do four weights sessions and still some form of low-impact, steady-state cardio every day.
What are your future plans?
My goal is to be the best Gawain Johnstone I can be. I’m currently working on one more appearance in Manila before the end of the year and then Singapore and Malaysia by next year.
I am going to continue to do everything that I can do to promote the sport through the Philippines and ASEAN countries. It all starts with my people though, my job is to uplift and be a benchmark for the Filipinos that we can compete at the highest level, even if it’s a sport you would think that we are not naturally gifted at. It is on us to make the decision to be better than mediocre, and even better than great. In 2019, my goal is to come back as many times as I can to the Philippines and promote the sport, myself and further motivate people. From a competitive perspective, I will probably look to compete in Big Dogs 4 or maybe the 2019 Arnold Classic.
Why would you recommend powerlifting as a sport for kids?
I would recommend the sport of powerlifting to all ages. One pipe dream goal that I have, is to start, or provide access to the youth both in Australia and the Philippines who may not have the money to go to a strength and conditioning facility and receive coaching/mentorship. I’ve done a lot of work here in Australia and in the US where we have given opportunities to both troubled and untroubled youths to come train in a facility with coaching and provide them a platform to springboard their lives. Particularly young people with addiction or who are lost in life. Lifting gives people and young people a positive outlet to manage their issues and channel that energy into something that is of value to them, particularly in the hope that one day they encounter someone to whom they can provide that perspective to and enable them to go down a more constructive path.
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