Gustin is a double Paralympic champion and the defending Commonwealth Games title holder in the Men’s Lightweight category of Para Powerlifting, which covers athletes up to 72kg.

“My success comes from my motivation, from wanting to be a champion,” the 27-year-old said after his opening training session at the SEC Armadillo, where the competition is taking place. “But here I’m nervous, because I feel like someone is challenging me.”

Gustin named Mark Swan of England and Nigeria’s veteran powerlifter Roland Ezuruike as the most likely obstacles to a successful defence of his title.

“Roland is like my older brother,” Gustin said of the Nigerian, 23 years his senior. “In Powerlifting, I look up to him as my idol. We are very close. He has the same spirit, the same sport. So I must be prepared for him.”

Ezuruike is the Rio 2016 Paralympic gold medallist in the 54kg category and won Commonwealth Games gold at Lightweight in 2018.

He’s still lifting big two months after turning 50 – and is certainly not short on confidence.

“I'm getting old now, but I'm a legend in my category,” Ezuruike said. “I still feel good because when you engage yourself in sport, you will look younger than your age. Yeah, I feel good about that.

“It's going to be a tough one but I will never give up. Anything can happen that day. The platform decides.”

In the Men’s Heavyweight event, debutant Bryan Junency Gustin – older brother of Bonnie – will lead the Malaysian challenge as India’s Sudhir seeks a repeat of his win at Birmingham 2022.

England’s Matthew Harding arrives as the top-ranked athlete in the category, while Alfie Maddocks Bezance of the Isle of Man is an emerging talent in the sport.

No pain, no gain for Nigerian legend

The Women’s Heavyweight division for lifters above 61kg is headlined by the two-time Paralympic champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo.

The Nigerian powerhouse set a world record of 155kg in Birmingham four years ago, which she extended to 168kg a year after winning gold at Paris 2024.  

“I feel good – there's no champion forever, but if you keep training, you'll keep to your standard,” the 41-year-old said.

“I'm very happy to be a role model to others. I want those out there to look at my dream and go after it.”

In the Women’s Lightweight category, England's Olivia Broome, the bronze medallist in the 50kg at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, is aiming to go one better than the Commonwealth Games silver she won four years ago.  

The 25-year-old will be challenged all the way by Esther Nworgu and Esther Oyema of Nigeria, and by Kenya’s Hellen Wawira Kariuki, who won her nation’s only non-athletics medal in Birmingham.

“Right now, I think I have more confidence than at the last Commonwealths,” Kariuki said. “I lifted 95kg then. But my personal best is 107 and I will pass that mark here.”

The Para Powerlifting, presented by Amul, takes place at the SEC Armadillo on 24 July.