In 2022 Theo bid farewell to Lingfield College and following the global pandemic, began his sports scholarship at Bournemouth university. During this time, he dedicated himself to the world of professional powerlifting, a passion which he hasn't been able to shake since.

At 16 years old Theo, as he describes, stumbled into powerlifting and was naturally very good! In 2019 he entered his first competition where he placed 1st and qualified for his first national championship later that year. After this, he was invited to represent Team GB for 2020 and 2021, but the opportunity was postponed due to Covid-19. This did not stop his dedication to the sport, as he continued to train at home, and even at Lingfield's own gym. 

2021 was a breakthrough year for Theo in the powerlifting arena. He placed 3rd at World Men's Classic Championships, 2nd at the European Men's Classic Championships and 1st at Nationals (UK). 2024 was also a momentous year as he won gold at the Commonwealth Men's Classic Powerlifting Championships, in South Africa. He also set a record for the bench press in the junior category, lifting an astonishing 185.5kg. What's equally impressive is his dedication to his teammates and university, as alongside competing, Theo is captain and headcoach for the powerlifting team at Bournemouth.

While it was incredible listening to Theo speak about his triumph in this sport, it was also fascinating to hear him talk about the strides made in the powerlifting community. He described an exponential increase in the number of people joining the sport, both men and women of all ages, which he credits, in part, to social media. Theo also emphasised that in his experience, the powerlifting community is a welcoming and friendly environment, which is refreshing to hear, especially at such a high level. 

Suffice to say that Theo is an exceptional sportsman, with an incredible future ahead of him. As nationals are 6 weeks away he'll be training hard to progress into the European and World Championships. Lingfield College and Oldlingfieldians wish him the best of luck for his future competitions and if you would like to show your support, you can follow his progress via his instagram; _theogoff.