Moreover, Bill Despard is someone who has completely embraced weightlifting as “his life”.
At the age of 87, this woman just recently returned from Poland and got a silver medal in the 81kg weightlifting category. She is Scotland’s oldest competitor to ever win a weightlifting and medal.
Bill, who has been coaching weightlifting for more than 20 years, spends most of his days at the Kilwinning Olympic Weightlifting Club. He’s keeping up an extraordinary pastime in some other old way you might have told him as it’s ‘impossible’ to stop doing till the end.
“There were more than 1,400 lifters taking part over the week,” the remarkable OAP told the Times.
“A guy from Poland beat me, he is 87.
“I got a new hip last year which has slowed me down a little, it makes me a bit apprehensive when I’m lifting the heavier weights, but I finished second and got a silver medal.
“I made a wee bit of history for Scotland as the oldest ever weightlifter to compete at a competition.
“I enjoyed it, it was a terrific atmosphere and I was just hoping to get a medal.”
Despite some serious health problems over the last several years, Bill has remained as active in sports as when he began at age 15.
The widower, who had his right breast removed at 16 due to cancer, competed again at 18 and said he was very cautious after getting a replacement hip due to fear of future injuries.
Director of the National Squash Centre at Ponds Forge, Chris West believes there are difficulties to overcome in terms of kids picking up squash. Despite this, he is adamant that squash is a sport which more people should be getting involved in, with particular emphasis on younger generations.
Bill said: “I love doing it, I love the sport. It’s been good to me physically, it’s been great to me.
“I just feel that if I can get kids off the streets and teach them an Olympic sport, and help them get out of difficulties, that would be great.
“We had loads of members but Covid killed us. We’ve got 14 members at the moment.
“I don’t care if they’re 100-years-old, anyone can join in.
“I don’t make any money out of it, I’ve been paid once in my life when I was in Japan and I refereed and they gave me 300 dollars. I’ve never made a penny out of it.
“It’s my life, it’s everything I know in life.”
The great-grandfather has long-term supporter named 17-year-old Staffy, Holly, who has come to accompany the man through each of his successes.
Bill said: “My wife used to come to all of my competitions but all I’ve got now is my wee dog, so I’ve got a bed in the gym for her and it’s beside where I train.
“She just sits and watches me and as soon as she sees me change my shoes she knows it’s time to go up the road.”
