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Ray Foley (right) pictured above with strongman Pa O’Dwyer and athlete and model Judy Fitzgerald, will be competing in the World Powerlifting Championships in Portugal this November Ray Foley (right) pictured above with strongman Pa O’Dwyer and athlete and model Judy Fitzgerald, will be competing in the World Powerlifting Championships in Portugal this November

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Limerick native Ray Foley to compete at World Powerlifting Championships in Portugal

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3 years ago

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Ray Foley (right) pictured above with strongman Pa O’Dwyer and strong woman competitor Maeve Frawley who is competing in the World Championship event in Finland this December  

Limerick native Ray Foley to compete at World Powerlifting Championships in Portugal

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Ann Mc Donald

Ray Foley Ray holds 8 records – 4 Irish records, and 4 records in his club

Ray holds 8 records – 4 Irish records, and 4 records in his club


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41-year-old Limerick native Ray Foley will be competing at the World Powerlifting Championships in Portugal from November 15 to 21.

He will be competing in the 125kg M40+ category, where he is set to attempt his heaviest lifts yet.

He was able to make his way to the Championships after his performance at nationals earned him a spot on the Irish Powerlifting Association’s team.

“This year, I gave powerlifting a go, and every day I looked at the record board, hoping to get one of them one day. After my first competition, I now hold 8 records, 4 Irish records and 4 club records,” he said.

The 41-year-old began weightlifting at the age of 29 and only began powerlifting a year ago and has earned his spot amongst the country’s strongest people.

For squats, Foley lifts around 260kgs, his bench press is just under 190kgs, and his deadlift can reach up to 300kgs. He is expecting to fulfil his potential when he represents Ireland at the WPC by lifting even heavier weights.  

In comparison, when Ray began weightlifting, he was unable to press 50kg, and walked straight out of the gym. However, he went back in on a regular basis and began training, getting stronger and stronger.

After some time, he began training with acclaimed strongman Pa O’Dwyer, who urged Ray to compete at national level under the discipline of Strongman rather than powerlifting.

Ray entered his first Strongman competition at the Galway Strongman and Powerlifting Gym, and despite being 40 years old and a latecomer, he managed to win third against competitors with much more experience than him.

He then joined Limerick gym Southside Barbell, a gym specifically for powerlifting and known for its strong winning culture and unique atmosphere. Under the wing of Shane Brodie, Irish and international weightlifter and strength coach, Foley began powerlifting and shined at it.

Shane signed Ray up to compete at nationals where he would be competing against Ireland’s strongest, just weeks after ray began powerlifting, with the ultimate result of it being Ray being able to compete at the World Powerlifting Championships.

For more about the World Powerlifting Championships go HERE 

For more stories about sport go HERE 

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