World Powerlifting Championships medal would be emotional moment for Reon

Reon Juskowiak reckons he will cry tears of joy if he is able to return from the World Powerlifting Championships in Mongolia with a medal.

The Burnside 42-year-old will represent Great Britain at the event in October, and while he believes picking up a medal overall is unlikely, Reon might be in with a chance in deadlift, competing in the Masters category.

Reon, who won gold and bronze at the Commonwealth Championships in New Zealand last year, says just being selected for Mongolia is a year ahead of schedule.

And the father-of-three, who is faculty head of PE at St John Ogilvie High in Hamilton, admits a podium finish of any kind would be overwhelming.

He said: “If I could medal it would be an incredible achievement.

“I’ve not cried for a while in sport, but I think I would definitely be shedding a tear if I managed to get a medal.

“I watched my coach, Mark Fulton, win a bronze in deadlift with his last lift in Canada last year, and that was just amazing. That gave me inspiration to try and get to that level.

“It’s going to be a big step up in level, it’s going to be interesting – and it’s going to be tough.

“If I’m being totally realistic, my target is to finish in the top half of the entries .

“I’ve looked at the standards when it comes to the worlds, and I think I’ll probably be 50kg behind in my total to be really competing for the top places – but that’s overall.

“I’m hoping that my deadlift is going to keep going the way it is, and I might have a chance to medal in that.

“Medalling overall will be really challenging, but when you go for GB you’re there to gain points for the team.

“The higher up you finish, you gain points for your placing, but then you’re in with another 20 to 30-odd lifters, so you can maybe