Nicholson's raw power

RICHARD NICHOLSON possesses strength the Terminator would be jealous of.

Here's the kicker - the five-time Paralympian who became the first Australian to bench three times his body weight hasn't seen the inside of the gym in three years.

It's enough to make any 9-5 gym junkie drop a barbell on their foot in disgust.

Since winning a silver medal in powerlifting in 2000, the 41-year-old Canberra athlete has shed 4kg in a more streamlined physique which has him on track for his sixth consecutive Paralympic Games in London later this year.

''I haven't been in the gym for probably three years now,'' he said.

''If we need to do a strength session we probably go and do hills somewhere.

''All that time I spent in the gym early on in my athletic career has given me a very strong base and I've been able to maintain that using quite specific track training methods.''

Nicholson's first two Paralympics were as a powerlifter.

Tipping the scales at 58.1kg, Nicholson lifted an incredible 175kg to claim silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

To put that feat into perspective, burly 112kg ACT Brumbies prop Dan Palmer leads the Super Rugby club with a personal best bench press of 210kg - less than twice his body weight.

Chasing a new challenge, Nicholson made the switch to the athletics track for the 2004 Paralympics, collecting another silver medal as part of the men's 4x100m relay team.

His body shape may have changed, but that strength and desire to succeed remains as strong as ever.

''The muscle I wasn't using any more behind my shoulder has disappeared and I've become a bit broader behind my back,'' Nicholson said.

''I'm fit as I've ever been at the moment, which has been good for my racing.''

Nicholson is in the midst of a heavy competitive schedule, including breaking the national record for the 4x400m relay at last weekend's Canberra meeting.

Along with the relay, which he rates as his greatest medal chance, he's also hoping to qualify for the 400m individual and the 800m for London. As for whether he'll push on towards Brazil in 2016, this evergreen competitor is taking it as it comes.

''It's kind of a year by year thing,'' he said.

''I remember reading a thing saying success is a journey not a destination, I get that now. While I'm still enjoying it I'll keep doing it.''