O’Keeffe wins World Powerlifting title
By Thomas Conway
It says something about Niall O’Keeffe’s inner psyche that he wasn’t entirely happy with his performance at last week’s GPC World Powerlifting Championships in Poland, despite the fact that he reigned supreme in his age-category, adding a second world title to his repertoire and scratching off European and world records on the bench press in the process.
The 49-year-old muscular therapist produced a 200kg squat, a 180.5kg bench press and a 230kg deadlift, leaving him with a combined total of 610.5kg, enough to conquer the gym and become world champion for a second time, following on from his exploits in Portugal in 2021.
He is, of course, honoured and privileged to take the title, and says he will celebrate his success accordingly. However, Niall also says he is also returning from Poland with “mixed emotions”.
“I had the numbers I wanted to hit and I didn’t achieve them. However, the numbers I did hit were still enough to win gold,” he explains.
In his mind he says he will “replay every missed lift and what if moment”, simply because he is “still hungry for more”.
His words are a reminder that successful powerlifters, much like any successful athlete, are on a quest for constant improvement, constant progression.
Niall has over a decade-and-a-half of competitive powerlifting experience and also holds a collection of national titles. While much of his progression is the result of his own work-ethic and willpower, he has been ably guided along the way by his coach Graeme Quirke, with whom he has completed countless sessions on the floor of the Fitness Factory, where he trains.
A longtime proponent of strength and resistance training, Niall says that powerlifting has taught him so much and has instilled in him the lesson that “in life you only get what you work for”. He says that “there are no shortcuts” and that failure is an inevitable hurdle on the road to success.
He dismisses the significance of chronological age and encourages people not to let a number define them. The former Defence Forces member now works as a muscular therapist and pain specialist, having established Nenagh Pain Clinic some years ago. He is an expert in physiology, particularly with regard to muscle growth and muscle functioning, and that knowledge has undoubtedly contributed to his success.
However, he also offers advice on the mental side of performance, and perhaps that is the real secret to his success. “Show up. Commit to something. Have pride in yourself. And eventually, to the victor comes the spoils,” he says.