Team Isagenix athlete, Leigh Skinner, was the man of the moment as he set his sights on a Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Para-powerlifting medal. The Gold Coast local had his hands full from the outset, juggling a multitude of media commitments while also giving it his all on the Commonwealth’s biggest sporting stage. Leigh had competed in two previous Commonwealth Games and a host of other international competitions around the world, but nothing could ever compare to the energy and excitement he experienced on home soil.
“When I walked into that arena it was deafening. I had close to 100 family, friends and guys from the gym supporting me along with another 3,000 crazy Gold Coasters all yelling and screaming, it was insane! Even the Scottish guys backstage said they’d never heard anything like it,” says Leigh. “They gave me a performance boost, there was so much adrenaline and trying to control that energy from the crowd is hard. I probably could have lifted 200 kilograms that night if I was given a chance.”
Leigh is the ultimate competitor who dreamed of claiming a Commonwealth Games medal in his backyard, but the inspirational powerlifter had another reason driving his motivation. “My whole plan over the last four years has been about getting to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, to have the chance to compete in front of my parents who are in their 70s and had never seen me compete at an international level,” says Leigh. “If it wasn’t for Isagenix I might never have had the chance to compete at the Commonwealth Games so that itself was a humbling moment for me.”
At the prime age of 53 and still nursing a shoulder injury since his appearance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, the iron-pumping extraordinaire still found a way to, quite literally, raise the bar with his training and performances. “Even into my 50s I felt so good that I was able to compete in and win many able-bodied weightlifting competitions and break a heap of records,” he says.
“Before I came across Isagenix, I was a little fat powerlifter, but once I started using the products, my body changed so much that I started looking like a bodybuilder. I even had abs!” laughs Leigh. “The younger powerlifters struggled to keep up with me at training.”
The lovable Australian epitomises how athletes can make the most of the nutritious product range from Isagenix, as well as the business opportunity to maximise their sporting potential. “Isagenix is having a huge impact on my life,” says Leigh. “Not only has it prolonged my sporting career, but it has also given me the finance to chase my sporting dream around the world. It’s quite expensive for us para-powerlifters so being an Associate is the perfect opportunity to generate an income to compete and coach around Australia and the world.”
In case Leigh’s career wasn’t inspiring enough already, the veteran powerlifter has now turned his attention to the next generation of stars who want to follow in his footsteps. “I love coaching para-athletes because they are incredibly inspiring, but I also want to get into public speaking,” says Leigh. “I’ve gone through many things that led me to powerlifting and when I share that with people, they often tell me that it’s inspiring. To me it’s just my life, but if it can help someone else achieve something that would be perfect.”
