Strongman & Supporter: Steve’s Inspiring Story

If you’ve spent time in any of our venues, chances are you’ve seen Steve around.

A familiar face across nearly all our sites — including the old gym in Mablethorpe and Louth during the venue’s temporary closure — Steve’s dedication to strength training and community support stands out.

Steve isn’t new to competition…

Back in 2021, he took on the Grantham Strongman — a fierce and demanding event that required intense training and a lot of grit. But as the years go on, Steve has recognised the importance of protecting his body from injury while still pursuing his love for strength sports.

That passion was recently reignited when a friend competed in the bench press event at Mr Olympia. Watching from the sidelines wasn’t enough for Steve anymore.

“Instead of just watching, I will try and compete and get in with you!” he said.

So, this year, Steve set his sights on the Arnolds in Spain. In April, he travelled to Horncastle for the qualifiers — and qualified. Competing in the Masters category, he joked,

“So at least I am not against 20-year-olds!”

Steve’s events are the bench press and deadlift, and his experience shows. He’s spent years developing proper technique and strength, and now he’s using that knowledge to help others on their journeys — most recently, Karen.

Their shared motivation shows the power of having the right people around you in the gym — spaces that can sometimes feel intimidating. That’s why it’s so important to have a supportive and friendly atmosphere across all of our venues, and we’re proud to see that community spirit thriving at every location.

Another major highlight for Steve has been the recent hosting of the WRPF (World Raw Powerlifting Federation) East Midlands Qualifiers in Horncastle — a welcome change that has made a real difference for local lifters.

“It was the first year they came to Horncastle. I used to have to travel much further, so it was fantastic to finally have a local venue!” Steve explains.

Since then, Steve has competed and proudly holds the WRPF British Record in his age bracket and weight class (under 100kg) for single lift Bench and Deadlift — achieving an incredible 160kg Bench Press and a 275kg Deadlift. What an outstanding achievement! All of us at Magna Vitae are incredibly proud and want to say a huge congratulations to Steve!

Find out more about WRPF

And it wasn’t just Steve making headlines — Karen also stepped up and competed in her very first competition! Not only was she there supporting Steve from the sidelines, but she got involved herself and gave it her all. Well done, Karen!

From Strongman competitions to lifting records and supporting others in the gym, Steve’s story is one of progression, passion and purpose. He now looks to pursue further qualifications and upskill in an area he truly cares about, continuing to grow not only as an athlete but also as a mentor and motivator for others.