Billy Duerden, powerlifter, Burnley College Student and personal trainer at Fitness Evolution has been sharing his secrets to strongman success on Radio Lancashire’s breakfast show.
The 16-year-old star has secured himself a space in the finals of the Kaos Teen Strongman League Under 19 Boys – making him the youngest in the UK to do so.
Billy, from Rossendale and a former pupil at Rossendale All Saints’ RC High School is currently studying an Advanced Diploma in Sport, Fitness and Personal Training at Burnley College.
Along with his coach, Saffron Neal, he talked about his diet, his practice regime and his dreams for the future on the Graham Liver show.
Billy told listeners about how he balances his athletic career with his college work:
You’ve got to be disciplined with yourself. You do what you need to do.
But when you’ve got a love for it like I do, you can easily make time for it.– Billy Duerden, Burnley College Student and Strongman Champion
“For example, today I got up to train at 5:30am because I have a whole day of college too.”
Coach at Fitness Evolution, Burnley College’s onsite Strength and Conditioning partner, Saffron Neal says they work hard to ensure Billy can combine the two aspects:
“Billy’s courses allow him to bring everything together, and bring his love and passion for being a strongman into his studies. When you can see where the end result will take you, it makes the hard work of training that little bit easier.”
Billy’s now due to compete the finals of the Kaos Competition in early Autumn 2024.
If you have the passion, the drive and the desire to succeed in your sport while ensuring you maximise your opportunities, Burnley College specialises in working with professional athletes to combine their studies and training side-by-side so they can excel in everything they turn themselves to.
Learn more and explore Fitness Evolution at our upcoming Open Evening, Tuesday 12 March from 5:30pm – 8:30pm.
