Powerlifting grandad aged 77 beats men decades younger

A 77-year-old weightlifting pensioner has won a powerlifting contest after beating strong men who are up to 40 years younger than him.

Peter Mileham shocked himself by beating the odds to win a gold medal at the Masters 4 category powerlifting event at his gym in Preston, after "having recently signed up to a gym to keep fit and healthy".

The powerlifting pensioner became chairman of the charity Rosemere Cancer Foundation, a year after his wife Shelagh died of cancer in 2017.

Keen to raise funds for the cancer charity, he started weightlifting at Ashton’s Fitcess Gym and was gobsmacked to win his first ever powerlifting competition there.

During the competition, he hit three white lights, which means he achieved a good lift, on every squat, bench press and deadlift he did to reach personal bests across the trio to secure a gold medal.

Mr Mileham, the Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, who received his OBE in 2016 for his services to Lancashire, said: “I certainly didn’t expect to be entering a weightlifting competition at my age but I train at Fitcess and have received a lot of encouragement from my trainer Tom, who always thought I had a great chance of winning and has certainly put me through my paces.”

Raising the bar

With support from his coach Tom Hulme, Mr Mileham now has a chance to do well at the British Championships later this year.

Mr Mileham managed to raise £3,217 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation through donations from family and friends. The charity supports cancer treatment in Lancashire and beyond, but funding had been a real issue during the pandemic.

“The pandemic has affected charities across the UK but the amazing supporters of Rosemere Cancer Foundation have gone above and beyond in their efforts to create new and unique ways of raising vital funds to support local cancer patients.

“Taking them as my inspiration, I wanted to find my own way to raise some much needed funds and having recently signed up to a gym to keep fit and healthy, I have come across a new found skill for weightlifting."

His biggest supporters include his daughters and grandchildren. Peter Mileham added: “I would like to thank everyone who supported me. Your sponsorship was an additional motivation in my efforts to literally raise the bar.”