Odell Manuel

Odell Manuel is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who became an Australian powerlifting champion. Growing up in Auckland he played junior football for the Otahuhu Leopards and was selected for the Junior Kiwis in 1997. He played two seasons for the Warriors, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1999, represented the New Zealand Maori at the 2000 World Cup, and then spent two quieter years at Canberra before an arthritis diagnosis ended his playing career. He entered his first powerlifting event in January 2009 and won the Australian national title that July with a 916 kilogram total, a national record. He was later suspended for three months after a positive test for methylhexanamine linked to a supplement. In June 2013 he became the first Australian to total over 1000 kilograms raw, with 1020 kilograms at the GPC Australia national titles.