A Kilwinning weightlifter in his 80s has bounced back from a hip replacement by winning European silver.
Bill Despard thought his incredible 72-year-long career in the sport was over when he was forced to have surgery last year.
But the 87-year-old defied the odds to return to competitive action at the European Championships in Poland earlier this month where he finished runner-up in the competition’s highest age category.
Bill, who runs Kilwinning Olympic Weightlifting Club in the town’s Longford Avenue said: “When I got the hip done I thought that was me finished.
“I’ve got weightlifting friends who have had problems coming back from hip surgery. To be honest, after 72 years in the sport it wasn’t really that much of a surprise when my hip went.
“Taking all that weight on my left side was always going to lead to deterioration but I was lucky in a way that my problems came on quite suddenly.
“It came right in the middle of Covid but thankfully I managed to get booked in for the operation.
“I did a lot of hip and leg work as part of my recovery but I have to admit I was a wee bit apprehensive about how it would stand up going into the competition.
“I didn’t quite do what I know I’m capable of but at the end of the day the other lad was a worthy winner.”
Bill has no intention of retiring just yet and plans to compete in three international events next year.
He added: “I’ve qualified for the European Championships in Ireland next May and after that I’ve got the European Masters Games in Finland in June and the World Championships back in Poland in September.
“I’m training seven days a week just now with the club and will keep going for as long as I possibly can.”
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