Former Forres Academy teacher breaks Scottish bench press record at World Championships in Kazakhstan
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A TEACHER from Moray has set a new Scottish record at the World Bench Press Championships in Kazakhstan.
Graeme Reid (42), who lives in Aberlour, bench pressed 210kg in the equipped category of the event in Almaty on Sunday, May 22.
The lift beat the previous record, also held by Graeme, of 200kg which he recently equalled at the British Championships in February this year.
Graeme narrowly missed out on a medal at the event after finishing fourth but the placement still represents an improvement for the Moray strongman after he finished sixth in last year's championships in Lithuania.
"I went in feeling really confident," Graeme said.
"I knew that if I was going to medal I would need to do really well and someone ahead of me was going to have to do really poorly.
"I did really well but unfortunately those ahead of me didn't do really poorly.
"Still, I was delighted to set a new PB and a new Scottish record."
Each competitor in the event made three lifts under the watchful eye of six referees. And, after Graeme had posted 200kg with his first lift, he failed on 210kg in his second.
However, the former Forres Academy teacher overcame the pressure to secure the record with his third and final lift.
Graeme credits his recent successes to his coach Marc Giles.
"He's a man of few words but he really knows his stuff," Graeme said.
"My training has just been going really well this year.
"Everything has just really come together for me recently and the stars just kind of aligned for me last week.
"I had good sleep, good food, good hydration, just the training beforehand was perfect for me to do well."
Graeme's performance in Almaty has secured his qualification for August's European Championships in Hungary.
He also has the Scottish Masters competition to look forward to before that in two week's time.
The events provide Graeme with another opportunity to break his own record.
Graeme added: "I've lifted 220kg just in the gym before so the goal is to go heavier next time.
"I could break it at the Scottish Masters but my body is still quite battered at the moment to be honest so it's more likely that I'll do it in Hungary.
"The next World Championships are in South Africa next year so I just need to continue to do well to make sure I get back out there again."
