Kettlebell record holder keen to see sport grow
BBCA former Royal Marine who holds kettlebell records said when he first began lifting he "got humbled pretty quick."
Oli Mell was introduced to training with the weights to help with shoulder problems after getting into martial arts in the 2000s.
The Nantwich gym owner, who began competing in 2012, has won sixteen international gold medals and believes three of his International Kettlebell Marathon Federation (IKMF) endurance records still stand.
They include a two hour "super marathon" - continously lifting a 32kg kettlebell.
"To my credit, I'm one of the few lifters who has managed to win at different events, rather than just do one lift," he said.
So as well as hardcore endurance competitions, he will also compete in the likes of ten minute contests with a 40kg bell.
Training for a specific lift can take up to a year.
But he does not expect any of his records to remain unbroken, and is passionate about seeing kettlebell's profile continue to grow and more clubs open.
"It's always going to be an uphill battle when it's such a niche thing," he conceded.
"What I love about this sport as it's got bigger is a younger generation is coming in," said Mell who has some "good rivalries" with lifters in their 20s and 30s.
The Cheshire gym owner said he is not very strong, but learnt to move well, and feels the sport is very fair, as technique and condition are more important than natural or explosive strength.
"The better you lift it, the less energy you spend per rep, the more advantage you have ten reps in, a hundred reps in, 300 hundred reps in," he said.
"It's purely a mindset, purely a patience, and a skill, endurance," added the 43-year-old.
"Anyone can learn it, there's nothing special about me."
And the former marine said the sport calms the mind, as during the lifts, that is the sole focus.
"I find a lot of peace with it..there's something that happens when you do the same movement again, again and again."
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