The 79 year old took top place in his age and weight division of the competition that combined the Australian, Oceania, Pacific Rim and World Masters events into one occasion in October this year. 

Mr Preston competed in the 75-79 age group, requiring a minimum lift of 26kg. He lifted 30kg in his best Snatch and 40kg in his best Clean and Jerk with a total of 70kg. 

Mr Preston was up against Japanese weightlifter Yoshinobu Miyake, but was given a free path to victory when Miyake failed three attempts in a row and was disqualified from the competition.

“Its lucky really because he was lifting about 10kg more than what I could,” Mr Preston said. 

“My coach always told me, make your first lift one you know you can do, then work your way up.”

Mr Preston had his first taste of competitive weightlifting at the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide in 2005, which he had entered for rowing. 

“When I registered, I was looking through all the other events to see what else I could do ” he said.

“And when I saw weightlifting, I signed myself up for that too.”

As a long time rower, and later a rowing coach for a school in Canberra, Mr Preston had experience in weight training, but had never competed professionally. 

Since then he has been hooked on the sport, improving his lifting skills and competing against himself. 

“Quite often in the older age groups you will be the only one in the division, so it’s even more so a reality that you need to push your personal best, rather than beat someone else,” he said. 

“You get a real buzz when you step up onto the competition floor because you’ve got a whole group of people watching you as you stand up there on your own.”

But Mr Preston said the audience doesn’t make him nervous.

“It’s quite the opposite actually, and almost every weightlifter has told me the same, you feel that every person in that audience is on your side,” he said.

“They want to see you succeed.”

Weightlifting isn’t thought as a sport for older people, but Mr Preston said it’s a great way to strengthen the body.

“its about going back to basics, perfecting your squatting, getting that movement in your legs and then adding a little weight,” he said. 

“Even if you’re just practicing your squatting with a broom stick instead of weights, you’re still increasing that core strength and flexibility, which is so vital.”

The Bermagui Weightlifting Club meets twice a week in the Bermagui Sports Centre. They have welcomed travelling athletes, such as Olympic BMX rider Caroline Buchanan, to use their facilities and opened the gym  to Narooma High School students to try the sport.

Mr Preston said it is great for young people.

“The motions are the underlying principle for most sports, it is a strength and conditioning exercise that primes you for anything else,” he said. 

Next year, Mr Preston will move into the 80 years and over age group where he will continue to compete in Masters competitions.