Swindon strongman Dave Wozniak has been selected to represent the UK in an international powerlifting event.

Wozniak, a Thames Water technician covering the south Thames Valley region, has been involved in power sports since he was a teenager growing up in Poland.

When he moved to this country 16 years ago with his family, he reached a high standard in the senior section, bench-pressing weights of up to 167 kilos.

Last year, Wozniak won the Greater London Bench-Press Championships with a new personal best – 167.5 kilos – and has now been chosen to represent Britain at an international event in Texas.

He said: “At a recent event in Horncastle I won bronze in my weight category (105kg) with my second attempt at 162.5kg but just missed silver when I failed to lock out attempting 167.5kg.

“Nevertheless, it was a good event for me because I hadn’t been able to train fully because of a shoulder injury, plus it got me the invitation to represent Great Britain in America at the World Classic Bench Press Championships in April.”

Wozniak relies on his efforts in the gym four times a week and a strict diet.