Powerlifting: Voice lifts load without forklift

GOLDEN GLOW: Caleb Voice on the podium. PHOTO/International Powerlifting Federation

EIGHTEEN months ago Caleb Voice didn't have the foggiest idea what powerlifting was all about.

"I thought it was weightlifting at the Olympics Games," says the 27-year-old forklift driver from Sydney.

But last month Hawke's Bay-born Voice traded his mechanical tool at the Brayco stainless steel company warehouse to carry the weight of the world on his broad chest and shoulders and prevailed well before the chalk dust settled on the bench and he had time to free the straps from his hands.

The former Hastings Boys' High School pupil lifted 200kg to clinch gold in the maiden Open World Bench Press Championship in the Open 83kg class at Potchefstroom, South Africa, on May 20.

"It's my first world champs in four competitions overall," he says after bench pressing 190kg and 197.5 before emulating his Australian championship-winning 200kg weight in a lift for lift with Giligashvili, of Georgia.

Voice prevailed in the final lift and, in doing so, assumed the mantle of becoming Australia's first Open world title holder since Katrina Robertson in 1997, as opposed to sub/junior and masters class winners.

For the former personal trainer who claimed his Australian crown after just four weeks of training, the only drawback at the worlds was his inability to break the all-time U83kg world record of 210kg.

"I'll just have to do that another time." he says defiantly.

He had the opportunity to carry on lifting to eclipse that milestone but had he failed then on a countback he would have had to settle for world bronze.

"We are very proud parents," says mother Michelle Horne, echoing the sentiments of father Wayne from their family home in Flaxmere.

"We have always known Caleb to be focused and committed to his training and knew with the support of his coach, Amir Fazeli, at Adonis Athletics Granville [in Sydney] he would achieve his goals."

For the record, the former Heretaunga Intermediate and Raureka School pupil hopes to chase down the all-time 210kg record either at the Asia Oceania Championship in Christchurch on December 9-11 or, failing that, in defending his world crown at the next worlds in Texas in May next year.

Voice moved to Sydney in 2010, after having a year as personal trainer at the Curves Gym in Hastings.

After graduating from high school in 2007, he gravitated to Auckland to obtain his personal trainer's licence.

He persisted with personal training for two years in Sydney but the grind from early mornings and late into the nights didn't appeal to him.

"I wanted more time with a 9 to 5 job so I got my forklift licence," says the bloke who played mostly rugby and took part in athletics at school.

The propensity for the body to cope with immense strength and the desire to be the best he can be propel him.

So what's this about draping the Australia flag over his shoulders on the podium?

Voice laughs but recognises New Zealand can't help him the way Australia does.

"Australia pays for everything so I want to give them back gold medals in return."

No doubt, he has to produce his passport at every international event and officials ask him why not fly like a Kiwi.

"I tell them I'm a traitor," he says with a laugh. "But, look, I'm born and raised in Hastings so deep down I'm always going to be a New Zealander."

Voice hopes to conquer his class and then graduate to the bigger boys' arena.