Performotion Podcast

In the final episode of Athlete Things: Road to Junior Worlds, host Bobby sits down with Matthew-Foley Lewis, Australia's U105 reigning Junior National Champion.

At just 21 years old, Matthew is set to make his second appearance on the World Stage, after qualifying as a two-time National Champion. His first Worlds experience was in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 2023. 

Matthew reflects on his three-year journey with coach Steven, which evolved from a nervous start into a strong friendship. 

Matthew opens up about the shoulder injury that has impacted his progress for over a year and a half.  Despite the mental toll the injury has given him, Matthew’s unwavering discipline and commitment to powerlifting helped him push through, with promising results leading up to Malta. 

He also discusses his experience with ADHD and how he leverages it to develop good habits in training and nutrition through consistency. 

With two more years left in the Juniors, Matthew is determined to achieve even greater heights. Don’t miss his inspiring story! 

In this episode of Perf Podcasts, hosts Bobby Tan and Sam Butterworth reflect on their experiences at international powerlifting competitions and share insights for athletes preparing for Junior Worlds. They discuss the mental and physical challenges of competing on the world stage, comparing these with local competitions. Bobby and Sam emphasise the importance of learning from every competition, whether it ends in success or not.

Key Topics:

• Past Competitions: Bobby talks about his experience in Romania, dealing with injuries, and the mental preparation needed. Sam shares his journey to Malta, highlighting the challenges he faced, including weight management and adapting to new environments.
• Preparation Strategies: The hosts stress the importance of having a comprehensive plan, from packing lists to managing weight cuts, and the need to adjust and adapt on the fly.
• Mindset and Reflection: They delve into the psychological aspects of competition, such as dealing with nerves and the importance of reflection post-competition to improve future performance.
• Coaching Tips: For coaches, they advise on understanding the individual needs of their athletes, especially in terms of mental preparedness, and ensuring athletes are ready to seize opportunities on competition day.

The episode concludes with encouragement for athletes to stay focused, enjoy the experience, and always learn from each competition, no matter the outcome.

Kelly sits down with Jacob Sofianos, owner of Strength Club, Perth, who is known for having a team of athletes who have a strong presence on the national and international level. Most notably, Jacob is also known to coach Natalie Laalaai, who holds the biggest deadlift for a female in the IPF. 

Kelly and Jacob discuss how they both started their businesses, from being PTs to eventually scaling up and owning their own gyms. They discuss the challenges they faced, pitfalls business owners run into and what you need to know about getting into the fitness industry.

In the penultimate episode of Athlete Things: Road to Junior Worlds, host Bobby chats with Matthew Genge, Canada's U105 Junior National Champion.

Matthew began working with Kelly nearly a year ago and teamed up with Daisy for nutrition guidance about six months in. Since then, he's added an impressive 50 kilograms to his total and is now closing in on the 800-kilogram milestone. In this episode, Matthew reflects on his collaboration with Kelly and Daisy, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail that has made his experience so positive.

Matthew also sheds light on the Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) and his unconventional path to Worlds, securing his spot through regionals instead of Nationals.

Despite competing frequently, Matthew has managed to avoid any major injuries throughout his career. He shares his approach to recovery and how he stays injury-free — a must-listen for any athlete!

Looking ahead, Matthew has big plans after Worlds, including his final meet as a Junior at Commonwealths in Cape Town, South Africa. He discusses his strategy for peaking and recovery with Kelly's help, even with a short turnaround.

Don't miss this episode to hear Matthew's inspiring journey and what’s next for this rising star!

Join Bobby and Danny as they dive into the dynamic world of athletic training and competitive sports. In this episode, they explore the evolution of training methods, the integration of cutting-edge technology, and the importance of evidence-based practices in pushing athletes to their peak performance.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the physical and mental challenges that athletes face in high-stakes competitions and discover practical strategies to overcome these hurdles. Bobby and Danny share their expertise on innovative training techniques, personalized strength and conditioning programs, and the crucial role of mental toughness in achieving success.

Tune in to learn how the future of sports science is set to revolutionize the way athletes train and perform. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or sports enthusiast, this podcast offers a deep dive into the world of sports science that you won't want to miss.

In this episode of Athlete Things: Road to Junior Worlds, host Bobby sits down with Layla Soto, USA's U84kg Junior National Champion.

Layla discusses her journey of dominance in the USAPL, where she consistently secured podium finishes at top-level meets. She also shares her bold decision to transition from USAPL to Powerlifting America, the USA's IPF affiliate, driven by her ambition to compete against the best on the world stage.

The path to the world stage wasn't easy — Layla opens up about the injuries she faced and how she overcame them. 

Despite being the top nominee, Layla downplays the expectations and pressure, focusing instead on enjoying the experience with her coach Steven.

With just three weeks until her big performance, tune in to hear Layla’s inspiring story and how she’s preparing for the world stage.

This week, Tarrin and Daisy sit down to discuss the fundamentals of nutrition, focusing specifically on powerlifting and general health. They explore several key areas, including:

• Ideal Macro Splits: Understanding the optimal balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats for peak performance and overall health.
• Meal Timings: Timing meals to maximise energy levels, recovery, and muscle growth.
• Workout Nutrition: Best practices for pre-, intra-, and post-workout nutrition to support training and recovery.
• Hydration: The essential role of proper hydration in maintaining performance and health.
• Supplements: A guide to the supplements you should consider taking and how they can enhance your training and health goals.

Additionally, they identify common pitfalls that athletes often encounter when trying to optimise their nutrition. With their insights, you'll learn how to avoid these mistakes and tailor your diet for better results in your powerlifting journey and overall wellness.

Show Notes:

Macro Calculator:
https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/calorie-calculator/

Information About Supplement Testing:
UK - https://sport.wetestyoutrust.com/
AUS - https://hasta.org.au/

CHECK YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICATION:
https://www.globaldro.com/Home

Nutrition Pages:
https://www.instagram.com/idealnutrition__/
https://www.instagram.com/precisionnutrition/

Daisy's Recommended Macro Split:
PROTEIN  | 1.2-1.8g/kg BW
CARBS     | 40-60% daily intake
FATS         | Males: 0.8-1.2g/kg BW Females: 1.0g-1.5g/kg BW

"For athletes or those who are strength training, I recommend a protein intake of between 1.8g-2.2g/kg BW."

In this episode of Athlete Things: Road to Junior Worlds, Bobby welcomes returning guest Eszter Sallai, the reigning Hungarian U69 Junior and Open National Champion.

As Eszter prepares for her second Junior Worlds, she reflects on her debut at last year’s championship in Romania, where she secured an impressive 5th place finish. With 2023 Junior Worlds being her first time competing under coach Steven, Eszter shares how their partnership has significantly boosted her performance in just over a year.

Eszter opens up about her athletic journey, transitioning from a background in netball to discovering her passion for powerlifting. She discusses her evolution from being driven by external competition to focusing on personal growth, a shift made possible with the guidance of her sports psychologist.

The conversation also touches on the rising popularity of powerlifting in Hungary, fueled by social media and prestigious events like Sheffield and Open Worlds. With the Hungarian National team growing in size and spirit, Eszter expresses her pride and excitement as they head into this year’s Junior Worlds with their own national kit.

Eszter has set ambitious goals for herself this season, and you won’t want to miss what’s in store. Tune in to catch all the details!

In this episode of Athlete Things: Road to Junior Worlds, Bobby catches up with Alba Boström, the current Ranked #1 Female in Sweden while still being a Junior. 

Alba, who has already competed in five World Championships, is preparing for her sixth in Malta.  Fresh off an impressive 4th-place finish at the Open Worlds in Lithuania, she reflects on the power of healthy competition and how it has driven her to incredible heights. 

Alba takes us through her extensive competition history, sharing the unique lessons she's learned from each World Championship, including themes of maturity, confidence, and the role of luck. With more than 20 competitions to her name, Alba discusses how she learns to stay healthy while preparing for competitions.

In her final Junior World Championship, Alba goes up against one of the most decorated powerlifters in history, the current U57 Open World Champion, Jade Jacob. Alba excitedly shares how this invigorates her competitive spirit and she welcomes the competition.

Alba also opens up about her journey into powerlifting, hoping to inspire others to pursue their passions. Don’t miss this inspiring story! 

In this episode of "Athlete Things: Road to Junior Worlds," Bobby chats with Maybelle Thieu and Joyce Solis, who recently competed at the APA Junior Nationals 2024, placing first in the U69 Juniors and second in the U63 Juniors, respectively, with Maybelle also claiming the title of Junior Best Female Lifter. 

Both athletes, coached by Danny, share their experiences of balancing seriousness with fun in their training. As teammates and close friends, Maybelle and Joyce discuss how their bond strengthened, with Maybelle even helping Joyce at her meet despite having to compete the next day. 

They open up about their performances at Nationals, detailing the physical and mental challenges they faced, including significant injuries and self-doubt, and how they overcame these obstacles. 

Training out of Breakthrough Fitness, the duo explains the importance of a conducive training environment and how good training equipment and crew can elevate their training quality and experience.

Lastly, they discuss their ambitions for Worlds and what they hope to achieve in the coming years.

Tune in to hear their inspiring journeys to Worlds!