East Cork's TK Fitness bring home two powerlifting world championship medals

TK Fitness of Midleton had huge success in the powerlifting world championships last month, as they brought two titles home from the competition.

Co-founder Tommy Collins won the IPO Masters Division 1 category in the bench press, benching 185kg with a bodyweight of under 110kg and in the age range of 40-44, while Matthew Batista won his category and simultaneously broke a world record, deadlifting 240kg at 16 years old.

After previously winning at the National Championships and European Championships, Collins managed to win again, this time on his debut World Championships appearance, which took place in Manchester in October.

With years of work involved, Collins discusses the journey so far and how he got to this point. “Six years, I'm literally six years competing,” he begins. “I've been training powerlifting and strongman for 10 or 11 years.

“I also do strongman conditions, but I wouldn't be as good at them. I'm more of a powerlifter than a strongman. Strongman is more fun - lifting cars, stones and pulling trucks and stuff.

“At the gym here, we have a load of competitors. I won the worlds, the guy who came with me, Matthew Batista, he won the world championships with a 240kg deadlift at 16 and broke a record.

“We have one lad, Liam McConville. He came third in the world strongest man under 80kg a couple weeks ago. So, we’ve got a lot of titles and records at both national and world level.

“I won the nationals a few years in a row, but I'm six years doing it now. Normally, power lifting is the three lifts: deadlift, squat, and bench. I'm a specialist in bench press, so the way I looked at it, it was either do the three lifts and not get to the world championships or just do the bench press.” 

Tommy and Kate Kalinowska established TK Fitness just over five years ago, but their gym isn’t all about powerlifting – there’s more to it.

“We also do Thai boxing,” says Tommy. “We've one girl, Elaine McElligott, she’s a four-nation champion in Thai boxing. So, we've a lot of competitors in that as well. We do strongman, powerlifting, Thai boxing, and general fitness classes.

“I've autism as well, and we've a lot of autistic kids in here. I only got diagnosed two weeks ago, and I just want to show people that it doesn't matter. You can still do what you do. This is a place where everyone is welcome.” 

From Castlemartyr but based in Midleton, Collins has ensured that TK Fitness is a place where anyone can thrive. A positive environment where self-improvement is paramount, Tommy and Kate’s gym ensures that members can enjoy themselves and feel part of a community.

Anyone interested in joining TK Fitness, whether it’s weight training or Thai boxing you’re after, you can contact them via Facebook or Instagram @tkfitnessmidleton.