Powerlifter Wesley McGuinness: Our first Navy Leaders Champion
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When Royal Navy submariner Wesley McGuinness won the gold medal at the International Powerlifting Federation Commonwealth Championship 2024 his triumph was a fitting reward for years of graft, struggle and sheer resilience in the face of adversity.
And that’s precisely why we’re delighted to announce him as the inaugural winner of our Navy Leaders Champion award.
Over the next 12 months Navy Leaders will be helping to back Wesley financially — and cheering him on too of course — as he travels around the globe to compete in international events.
His commitment to his craft comes at a cost, though: he estimates that his gold-tinged trip to South Africa alone cost him approximately £5,000.
When asked about the significance of his new sponsorship from Navy Leaders, he said: “It has really set my mind at ease. Over the years, I’ve put in a lot of effort to build connections, often uncertain if I’d be able to compete or not.
“The support Navy Leaders is providing has already lifted a huge weight off my shoulders for next year. Now, I can focus solely on my training without the constant worry.”
Read our in-depth feature on Wesley’s life and career — including the tale of his gold-medal triumph:
Good things come to those who (lift) weight!
Power-lifters have to adapt their training schedules to peak at the right time for key events, and Wesley is currently building towards his next big challenge: competing at the 2025 British Bench Press Championships later this month (February 15&16).
A few months later he’ll be aiming to hit peak performance levels again at the World Bench Press Championships in Drammen, Norway, at the end of May.
As the summer draws to a close he has his sights set on twin September peaks. One of them is the 2025 European Bench Press Championships in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. And the other is the inaugural IPF Hands Across The Sea event, where the strongest men from our armed forces will face off against their peers from the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force.
Wesley said he was particularly excited at the prospect of this last event, adding: “It's the U.K. Armed Forces against the U.S. military, so we're going to have a big battle to see who's the best.
“We're going to be hosting that… this year and then the following year America are going to host it: that's one of the major events because it's the first of its kind. I'll be working hard towards selection!”
We wish our new champion all the best, and you can be sure we’ll be keeping you posted on his exploits throughout 2025 and beyond. Keep your eyes peeled for regular updates on the news feed of Navy Leaders!