Despite being in his fifties with a full-time job as a policeman – and a toddler to look after – Bernie McGurk has had a decorated year in powerlifting.
Earlier this month the 54-year-old from Dunfermline took Bronze in the Open Equipped World Championships in Viborg, Denmark.
It adds to his list of achievements for the year, which include success in Lithuania, Sweden and Canada.
Powerlifting has two main categories – classic and equipped. The latter includes the use of a squat suit, the former doesn’t.
‘Best year’
McGurk has competed with both but his bronze in Denmark came in the equipped competition after dropping a weight category.
He was selected for Team GB, with the competition open to all age groups.
“To go away to a world championship for the Open team and come back with a medal was brilliant,” McGurk told Courier Sport.
“I’m not sure if it’s my best achievement, but in the grand scheme of things it probably is – due to it being an Open World Championship from the highest standard federation in the world.
“It’s probably the best year I’ve had overall.”
The International Powerlifting Federation oversees the sport globally with the British Powerlifting Federation the offshoot in the UK.
The four nations have an organisation each below that and McGurk is director of Scottish Powerlifting with a seat on the British board.
Financial constraints
Funding trips to the likes of Canada and Mongolia doesn’t come cheap though.
Competition entry fees and paying for drugs tests can be claimed back if competitors place n the top half of tournaments.
That is a drop in the ocean compared to the thousands it costs for flights and accommodation.
“If you’re doing a few internationals a year, you’re kind of a victim of your own success. Sometimes you have to make a decision on what trips you can go on depending on what you’re selected for.”
With McGurk’s age, however, he knows he has to make most of the opportunities.
“You never know when that opportunity is going to come again. The risk of injury is quite high.
“You’ve just got to seize it when you can, think about the cost later.”
That funding is something the policeman of 23 years, along with others in his sport, has been fighting hard for.
There is hope it could come if powerlifting is recognised as an Olympic sport.
It appears to be on the verge of that, with their championships currently screened live on the Olympic Channel.
Once recognised possibilities will open up through sportscotland, as well as through Lottery and local government funding.
Until then it is mostly self-funded.
Much left in the tank?
McGurk lost his daughter, who was just 20, in 2015.
A few years later in 2018, after a win at the World Masters, he told Dunfermline Press that the sport had helped him cope with the loss.
But how much longer does the 54-year-old – who recently became a dad again – have left in him?
He refuses to put a number on it: “As long as I can continue to enjoy and do myself justice, then I’ll continue as long as I possibly can.”
Conversation