Second Chance, Second Games, and Stronger than Ever

22 years after Jonathan Powles made his first appearance as a rugby union player at the Australian Masters Games (AMG) in Canberra, he returns for second time, but as a powerlifter, with strength, purpose, and a renewed relationship with his body.

In 2003, Jonathan Powles laced up for the ACT Veterans Masters Rugby Union team at the AMG, driven by a love for the game and masters community. His return to the Games in 2025 marks more than just a second appearance in the same city; it represents a personal transformation.

This year, Jonathan’s second AMG carries a whole new weight, and not just the ones on the barbell. What once was about the competition is now a celebration of strength, resilience, and a renewed commitment to lifelong health.

In 2010, Jonathan sustained a rugby career-ending injury, fracturing his ankle in three places.

“I thought it was all over after I broke my ankle,” Jonathan reflects. “I ended up in hospital for 10 days and had two operations. I lost a lot of function in my ankle and just stopped doing sport altogether. I put on a lot of weight and became quite unfit,” Jonathan explained.

For years, Jonathan was stuck in that cycle. No training. No routine. No goals. Then in 2024, everything changed.

“I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the surgeon told me I needed to lose 25 kilos before they would even consider surgery. It was a wakeup call. A matter of life or death,” Jonathan admitted.

That’s when Jonathan discovered powerlifting. He had always been curious, but now it had a purpose.

“A mate introduced me to it, and it gave me something to focus on. The weight categories meant I had clear targets. I hit the gym, managed my diet, and lost the weight. Three months after abdominal surgery, I lifted 200 kilos. I thought that was pretty good,” Jonathan said.

Now cancer-free, what began as a strategy to survive become a way to thrive.

“Now I go to the gym five days a week. I feel better in my head because of this new relationship I have with my body. I am in charge of my health again. It is not just about the numbers. It’s about proving to myself that I have overcome some serious health challenges,” Jonathan said.

Jonathan is no stranger to the power of community. The highlight of his first AMG in 2003 was the mateship and spirit of the masters rugby union crew, and he has found that again in the powerlifting world.

“The powerlifting community is full of really lovely people. There is a huge mix of backgrounds and everyone supports each other. That camaraderie is still there even though the sport looks different,” Jonathan said.

These days, Jonathan trains under coach Sam Butterworth, who keeps him grounded, saying, “My coach always says, ‘Jon, you have got to be patient.’ That is hard for an old front rower to hear. I am used to going 110% all the time. But now I am learning that 80% is sometimes better.”

Jonathan’s story is one of comebacks and transformation, not just physical but psychological too. Jonathan explains that “It’s a mental challenge learning to be sensible and controlled. Not being active for 15 years had a really big impact on me. But now, competing again means I am setting personal targets, achieving them, and proving to myself that I can keep improving.”

“There is no talking your way through a lift. You either lift the weight or you don’t. I love that honesty. And for the first time in my life, I am focusing on me,” Jonathan added.

Jonathan’s advice to the 2003 version of himself? “The next 22 years will go much faster than you think. Do not wait for tomorrow or next week. Do not put it off. The next month and then the next decade will go in the blink of an eye.”

Back then, rugby gave him a sense of purpose and belonging. Now, powerlifting is doing the same with a renewed focus on health, self-belief, and that anything is possible, even as you age.

Are you ready to take on your own challenge? Find your sport and register for the Australian Masters Games in Canberra, 18 – 25 October 2025.