A TEENAGER from the Isle of Wight will be determined to show his strength of character as well as muscle when he takes part in the WPC World Powerlifting Championships in Portugal next month.

Representing GB in Trofa over six days, starting on November 15, Nathan Green qualified to join the team having come second in his class at the British Championships in June.

Island-born Nathan, 17, who is currently studying on an NCFE Level 2 gym instructor’s course at the IW College, has come a long way in a very short time —taking part in his third-ever competition when in Portugal.

He only started his journey into the world of powerlifting when he was still 14 — thanks to a chance meeting between his mum, Maria, and Victoria Brodie, of The Strong Room gym in Newport.

Victoria remains his coach today.

She said: “Nathan came to me very shy, with low confidence and self esteem. Like most teenagers these days he was feeling peer pressure to look better and feel healthier.

“We began his fitness journey and it became very apparent Nathan enjoyed the strength side of training, so we began to incorporate the three powerlifting disciplines of lifts — squat, bench and deadlift — into his training.

“He became so passionate and confident about the change in himself mentally and physically, he then chose to enter a competition.”

Nathan, who attended Hunnyhill Primary, Cowes Enterprise College and the Island Learning Centre, Newport, will be competing in the 16-18 years full power class at 110kg.

He has already amassed impressive PBs of 130kg (squat), 80kg (bench) and 200kg (deadlift), which gives him confidence going into the World Championships.

Nathan, of Staplers Road, Newport,is still pinching himself about taking part.

He said: “This will be a big jump up for me, but I’m really excited — and a little nervous. I was ecstatic when I was notified of selection last month.

“I’ve come a long way since being a shy and unmotivated boy, not knowing what to do with my life, to feeling driven and disciplined in all I do.

“I never imagined I would ever take part in a competition.

“Realistically, my aim in Portugal is to achieve a top five place, but my long-term ambition is to be competing internationally against the best of the best, lifting in different weight classes — higher or lower — and finding my niche in the sport.”