MALE MUSCLE
wanted to do the things that others can ’ t ,” he explains . “ This for me has never been driven by the motives that most would expect . It ’ s not for my ego or as a result of arrogance . The reason has always come from far deeper within , it has always been a personal battle with myself , a journey of self discovery to see how mentally strong I can be . Mental fortitude is so important in life , and I truly believe once you possess it , the impossible becomes possible .”
“ Physical Strength has always , and will always be impressive to me .
“ But for me , one ’ s character will always be defined by their mental strength over and above the strength of their body .”
Sean has no doubt about his potential to achieve this incredible feat either .
“ Self-doubt is crippling and will cause you to live beneath your privileges . I never doubt myself- not even for a moment . To believe in yourself is no easy task , yet self belief is fundamental to success . Becoming the first person to do something that has never been done before could very easily be an overwhelming experience . This is when self-belief becomes so important . I never allow nerves or negativity to creep in , and I never doubt myself and the power that I have within me .”
Despite his sheer determination , Sean does accept there is a chance he won ’ t be successful in his next World Record attempt .
“ I know there are no guarantees in life ,” he says . “ The weights that I lift in training are weights that not only very few people in the world ever lift , but they are also weights that could seriously injure me . If it goes wrong , it could go very wrong .”
So , how does Sean ensure he gives himself the best possible chance of preventing injury and securing continued victory ?
“ To become successful in any great challenge , there can be no weakness , and if there is a weakness it is imperative you invest the time and energy on improving this area ,” says Sean . “ Yes , we all have weaknesses , but I work on mine until they become my strengths .”
Sean uses the bench press as an example of an exercise that can be hugely enhanced by working on weak areas .
“ A powerful bench press requires so much more than just a strong chest ,” Sean explains . “ Most people assume that to develop a big bench press , they must increase the volume and frequency of their chest training , and where there is some truth in this , there are also many other factors involved ,” he says . “ A strong and developed upper back is incredibly important in building a big bench , this component is something I constantly see beginners and intermediate lifters neglect . In terms of chest strength , if you don ’ t have a good shelf ( namely
26 MUSCLE & FITNESS / MARCH 2018