Teen powerlifting prodigy breaking Commonwealth records after just a year in sport

Luke Talley, from New South Wales, competed in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Auckland, held over November and December 2022.
Photo: YouTube / Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation

At just 16 years old, New South Wales teen Luke Talley has become a powerlifting prodigy.

He started in the sport just 12 months ago, but has already set three new Commonwealth records.

He has recently returned to Australia from competing at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Auckland where he broke several international records.

“I got gold in the squat, the bench, the deadlift, and overall; which is your best squat, bench and deadlift added up,” he said

Along with four gold medals, Luke set the three new Commonwealth records in the sub junior category ‘under 53 kilogram’ weight class.

“I squatted 170kg, I benched 96.5kg and I accumulated a total lift of 391.5kg, which are all new Commonwealth records.”

An inclusive sport

Luke said he started powerlifting competitively after noticing he was “pretty good” at the sport.

“I was casually lifting in the gym and I found I was pretty good,” he said.

“I saw that it was a sport that is so inclusive, literally anyone could get into it.

“Anyone who can fit the specified weight and is the right age and can squat, bench and deadlift can compete.”

What Luke also enjoyed about powerlifting was that he was not forced to compete in a disability category.

“[In the past] I’ve tried swimming, I got to a high level, but as an athlete with a disability,” he said.

“I always wanted to compete against quote unquote ‘able-bodied people’, and I found that powerlifting was the best way to do that.”

Hard work and dedication

Luke said it had been a tough grind to achieve an international level in the sport.

“It’s hard work. I definitely have to plan out my whole term really thoroughly so I don’t end up compromising on either my lifting or on my schoolwork,” he said.

“I don’t skip workouts, I put all my effort into it and I think it’s just hard work and perseverance that pays off.”

His coach Aiden Potts said he was blown away by Luke’s commitment.

“Luke actually lives on a farm just outside of Newcastle, so he doesn’t come see me every single day at the gym,” Mr Potts says.

“He’ll send me videos online and I’ll reply with feedback.”

Potts said Luke’s success had come about exceptionally quickly.

“It’s quite phenomenal,” he said.

“I have no doubt that Luke is going to go further … considering the amount of time and effort that he puts into the sport.”

While Luke said he was pleased with the success he had achieved in the past year, he was ready for more.

“I’m definitely falling into that crowd of not always satisfied with what I lift even though I’m happy, but I still always want more,” he said.

Fellow Australian athletes Melanie Green, Natalie Bartolo and Tiggy Sadler-Barker also achieved a total of four gold and three silver medals from Auckland.

“It’s a really good local powerlifting community with a lot of successful people that you wouldn’t really know unless you were inside the community,” he said.

-ABC