AGE is no barrier for powerlifter Laurie Butler.
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The 67-year-old is a world champion weightlifter after breaking three world records and beating about 100 international lifters in the over-40 master lifter category at the weekend.
At the world weightlifting championships in Sydney, he lifted more weight than when he was just 27.
He squat lifted 200 kilograms, bench pressed 141 kilograms and dead lifted 250 kilograms.
“I am the only person in world history to do this,” he said.
“Usually things get harder as you get older and it feels good I can still be competitive at my age.
“The only way to do it is exercise, eat well and sleep because I want to have a good time for a long time.”
Mr Butler started lifting when he was 15 and became addicted.
“I’m going to lift weights for the rest of my life because I see no reason to stop,” he said.
“You don’t have to get weaker as you get older.
“It keeps you young.”
While Mr Butler can control exercise, sleep and nutrition, one challenge with getting older was changing hormones.
He started taking steroids at 40 to make up for the testosterone he was lacking with age.
“They make all the difference,” he said.
Mr Butler, who co-owns Supershape gym, said there was a stigma with steroids because of the “idiots” who misused the enhancement.
“It’s not the use, it’s the abuse that is the problem,” he said.
“It’s only in Australia, Canada and New Zealand where they are banned, but they are just like health food everywhere else.”
He was prescribed the enhancements because his blood level was low enough for him to take them legally.
Mr Butler trains only three days a week for an hour to ensure he does not overdo it.
Alongside him at the competition was Albury’s Brent Drake, who won the sub-master category for lifters aged 33 to 39, and Matthew Middleton, who finished second in the open men’s raw category.
Mr Butler is gearing up for the National Deadlift Competition to be held at Supershape gym on Sunday, December 7, from 10am.