Be the Inspiration: Precious Mckenzie

Weightlifter Precious McKenzie has spent a lifetime proving others wrong - using willpower, strength and self-belief to do so.

The charismatic and inspirational New Zealander, a three time Olympian who won four consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals, is a firm believer that the willpower which creates strength comes from circumstance and inner drive.

Born in South Africa in 1936, McKenzie was a sickly child, who was often treated cruelly in welfare care. Aspiring to be a circus acrobat, he developed a passion for weightlifting. 

During the era of apartheid, he was told he couldnt become a professional weightlifter because of race and colour. They defied me. So I set out to prove them wrong. Youre not what you are but what you want to be, the now 78-year-old says.

Told he could only travel and compete with coloured athletes, McKenzie turned his frustration into inspiration. He put his mind to building himself physically, and mentally, to compete with the sports best. 

Everything is in the mind. The physical is a product of the mental. Self-belief is so important; believing I can do it! To achieve you have to really want it. There are people who will look at a situation and just feel defeatist. You have to prepare yourself for what you want to do, and know that things wont come easy.

Although McKenzie became the best lifter in his weight class in South Africa, apartheid prevented him from competing internationally. So he went to live in England, where he worked in a shoe factory before eventually being granted citizenship.

He went on to complete a physical education degree, and won gold at the 1966, 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games for England.  During the 74 Games in Christchurch, McKenzie became enamoured with New Zealand (as New Zealanders equally became smitten with him), and he decided to settle there. He represented his new country at the 1978 Commonwealth Games winning his fourth straight gold.

He continued to prove others wrong even doctors.  Three months before he went to compete at an Olympics, he snatched 105kg a milestone hed never achieved before but dislocated his arm in the process. It took three doctors to put his arm back in place, but he was told he would not be able to compete at the Olympics. After insisting surgeons drained the fluid from his arm, he began his own rehabilitation and competed at the games.

Strength can only come from sheer determination. You have to be all in, there are no half measures, says McKenzie, who would often say to himself: Do it, or die.

He continues to challenge whats considered the norm. At 78, he believes theres no such thing as getting old, and uses willpower and incredible strength to set new world records in masters powerlifting around the globe.

The key to his success has been trusting in himself, and never believing there was something he could not do.  His career has required many small steps, and leaps over hurdles. Even in the most difficult times, he never gave up all because of willpower.