My son is only 11 but goes to the gym 3 hours a day and lifts 300 lbs.
A couple have been criticised for allowing their 11-year-old son to work out in the gym for three hours a day, but insist the child is happiest when he is lifting weights.
Rowan O’Malley is the strongest 11-year-old in the world and started powerlifting at the age of 9.
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He said the feeling of achieving a personal best in powerlifting is “amazing,” but his parents have been criticized for not giving their son a decent childhood.
Rowan goes straight to the gym every evening after school, where he lifts weights for two to three hours.
Rowan’s father Ben said his son showed an interest in weightlifting when he was 18 months old and was already picking things up as a toddler.
However, Rowan didn’t start lifting weights until he was five years old.
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“My first real memory of the gym was when I was about five or six years old and I was doing pull-ups on a pull-up bar and everyone was clapping for me,” Rowan said.
Rowan holds seven world records and can squat 250 pounds and deadlift 300 pounds, for a total of 680 pounds.
Ben said it was Rowan’s own idea to enter the competition.
“I wanted Rowan to get recognition for what he does,” Ben said.
Rowan cooks his own healthy meals so he gets all the nutrients he needs to stay strong.
He also plays rugby twice a week and hopes to turn professional one day.
Ben said that a lot of people have said that Rowan exercises too much for his age.
However, he said that Rowan loves being busy all the time and complains that he gets bored when he has a day off.
Rowan’s mother Gemma added that despite his busy schedule, he still finds time to see his friends and relax.
Ben said that many people have claimed that he pushed Rowan into weightlifting, but he said that is absolutely not true.
When should children start lifting weights?
Recent research has shown that children can start weightlifting as young as 7 or 8 years old, as long as it is done safely and correctly.
However, the emphasis should be on technique, controlled movements and supervision, rather than the amount of weight being lifted.
Strength training at a young age can help develop good motor skills and coordination.
At this age, children are still developing their neuromuscular systems, and weightlifting can improve their ability to perform daily activities more efficiently.
However, young children should be supervised at all times to ensure that the exercises are performed correctly and safely.
Children should also be encouraged to listen to their bodies and rest when necessary.
Gemma added that others have said the couple are preventing Rowan from having a decent childhood.
“That really upset us,” she said.
“I don’t think we’re pushy parents,” Ben said.
“I think we give Rowan the opportunity to excel in whatever he wants to excel in.
“If he told us tomorrow that he wanted to be a painter, he would paint every day.”
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