Delwyn Evans with her son Rhys in Norway.
It’s been a big year for Pirongia-based raw bench press specialist Delwyn Evans, 61, travelling around the globe and breaking records on the way.
Delwyn Evans in Himeji, Japan earlier this year. Photo: Supplied
The former Cambridge High School student has been to Norway, Japan and Christchurch in the last six months and is preparing for events in Poland and Canada events in 2026.
She trains at Zero Limits in Te Awamutu and travels over the Kaimai Range once a week to see trainer Mike Jones in Tauranga.
At the world bench press championships in Norway in May, Evans gained a fourth placing.
“There were nine in my class and the winners were benching 95kg. I broke my Commonwealth record, came home and then I competed in Japan in July, at the Asian African Pacific champs,” Evans said.
Trainer Mike Jones and Delwyn Evans in Christchurch at Oceania’s. Photo: Thirds Media
“I got second with an 80kg bench, I lost my Commonwealth record by one, because the Australian lifter weighed in before me – that was out of my control.
“I’ve just come off the Oceania regional powerlifting and bench press championships in Christchurch, where I had the best competition I’ve ever had.
“I got my records back and benched 83kg. It’s been a good year, that was my 64th competition overall.”
Evans is always looking ahead to an event and there’s no sign of stopping.
“I love it. There are days where training is harder than normal, but then it’s meant to be. If it wasn’t, why would I be there?”
“You’ve got to get used to that and be adaptable.”
Every time Evans lifts, she reads a bit of former All Black captain Richie McCaw’s book to draw some inspiration.
One of her pearls of wisdom is about being more process-focussed. It’s not all about the end result.
“I think we get too caught up in that winning process, the outcome, whereas we should be more processed-focused,” she said.
“People don’t actually see what goes into competing. They see you on the podium, but they don’t see the back story.
“The years of training, four or five days a week, nutritionists, sports psychology – there’s a whole lot that goes on. You don’t just rock up.”
Although bench press has taken her to new countries and experiences, Evans said the most rewarding part of the year was in her own backyard.
She spoke to the Continuing Education group in Te Awamutu.
“I went along thinking there’d be about 20 people, there were 70. They turned up to listen to me speak.
“They’re all over the age of 60. I found it really rewarding. People need to know that age shouldn’t be a barrier.
“They were all quite inspired and wanted to go and try new things.”
Evans said when she started at the gym in 2011, it was a male dominated sport.
“There were hardly any women lifting, but now it’s certainly turned, there’s more women and older women,” Evans said.
“I think whatever you do – it doesn’t matter what it is – it’s got to be a lifestyle, something you’re doing for enjoyment, not because you have to do it.”
Delwyn Evans with her son Rhys in Norway. Photo: Supplied
