Tuesday 02-12-2025 - 15:18

Hi everyone, I’m Steven Forshaw, a postgraduate student here at Wrexham studying for my Master's in Sport and Exercise Science.

 

If you see me on campus, I probably look like just another student getting to grips with the new term. But my path to Wrexham has been a little unconventional. Until this September, I lived a double life: working a full-time career in finance by day, and training as an elite powerlifter by night.

 

Just before joining the university this autumn, I capped off that chapter of my life with the defining season of my athletic career. In the spring and summer of 2025, while still working 9-5, I managed to secure the "Triple Crown", winning British, European and World Championship titles back-to-back.

 

The Long Road Back

 

On paper, the 2025 season looks like a smooth run of victories. I took the British title in May, flew to Wroclaw, Poland, to win the European Gold in June, and finally secured the World Championship in Idaho Falls in August.

 

But this wasn't an overnight success. The foundation for those wins was laid nine years ago, following a catastrophic injury. I underwent a complete knee reconstruction: meniscal repair, MCL repair, and the removal of part of my hamstring to construct a new ACL, which is now held in place with screws. For a powerlifter, that is usually game over. I had to learn to walk again before I could even look at a barbell. That recovery process took years of patience, but it taught me that resilience isn't about one big moment; it's about showing up every single day, even when the pain is excruciating and the progress feels invisible.

 

Why Wrexham?

 

After reaching the peak of the sport and balancing it with a demanding corporate career, I decided it was time for a new challenge. I chose to press pause on finance to come to Wrexham and dedicate a year to my Master's degree. High performance in sport feeds into high performance in life, and I wanted to apply that same discipline to my academic studies. Since joining the university in September, I haven't hung up the lifting belt, though. I recently competed at the UK Powerlifting Games, bringing home another Gold Medal. Although I wasn't in official kit, it was a proud moment hearing the commentary team giving Wrexham University a shout-out as I took to the platform for my lifts.

 

The Lesson: Discipline Over Motivation

 

I often get asked how I managed to balance a finance career with winning a World Title. The honest answer? It wasn’t about motivation; it was about discipline. Motivation is a feeling that comes and goes. Discipline is doing what needs to be done, whether that's a 6am training session or a late-night study session, even when you don't feel like it.

 

My advice to any student, whether you are an undergraduate or a mature student like me, is to trust the process. Whether you are recovering from an injury, working toward a degree or chasing a sporting dream, the results don't happen overnight. But if you keep showing up, they will happen. I’m excited to see what this year at Wrexham holds, both in the classroom and on the platform.