Medal-winning powerlifter books spot at Special Olympics

Special Olympics powerlifting champ Josh Cooke with his supportive mother, Sharon. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Josh Cooke has qualified for the Special Olympics 2017 National Summer Games in emphatic style down in Dunedin.

The powerlifter, who originates from Dunedin, went back to compete under the Special Olympics Otago flag as there was no Special Olympics Whangarei powerlifting team.

He went on to show why he will be a force at the nationals.

Cooke nailed two personal best lifts on his way to three gold medals and a bronze.

He hit a personal best for competition lifts in the bench press, lifting 95kg, which was good enough for a gold medal.

His next personal best came in the deadlift, where he raised 147.5kg off the gym floor. He grabbed a bronze medal for that effort.

Cooke also topped the field in the squat, raising 125kg.

Combined, Cooke lifted 367.5kg which secured the gold medal for the overall combination of weights.

Cooke's hugely supportive mother, Sharon, said the competition was not the only thing that Josh enjoyed and said he wasn't exactly showing off his medals on the way home.

"I think he was more into the dinner and disco afterwards than anything," she said.

"He came off the plane and I asked him where his medals where and he told me they were in his bag. He was a bit embarrassed I think," she said.

Josh Cooke said he was going to show his friends his prizes when he saw them at class.

"I'm going to take the medals to my arts class," he said.

The Special Olympics 2017 National Summer Games take place in November in Wellington.