Loughborough University, UK

Loughborough University has officially opened the doors to its brand-new Powerbase gym extension. The new facility spans a combined 3,200 m2 , doubling the size of the University’s elite strength and conditioning environment home to Loughborough’s multiple Olympic, Paralympic and World Champions.

The world-leading gym space has been equipped with the highest level of equipment and is fully integrated with the latest sporting technology.

Forging a unique lifting experience throughout the new facility, Loughborough has a range of custom-branded strength equipment from Eleiko, including the new IWF Weightlifting Training plates and Evo Dumbbells. Adding more variety to the free-weight options available, Loughborough is the first site in the UK to house the newly launched Eleiko Plate Dumbbells, alongside an array of speciality Weightlifting and Powerlifting barbells to cater to a range of lifting styles.

The new Powerbase facility has been designed to be fully inclusive and accessible, setting new benchmarks in the sector. Key accessibility designs include entry through new wide access Speed Gates, no raised platforms, increased space around equipment and a single level training environment. 

The new space includes 46 lifting platforms (combined from both sides of the gym), 8 fully instrumented racks and platforms with integrated VALD force plates, Output Sports velocity-based training systems, and the latest in Performance Analysis technology.

Designed to be a hub for world-leading academic development and athletic achievement, the training space has been created as a robust environment for elite-level sport with the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 now well on the horizon.

Jo Simpson continues:

“Together we have created one of the world’s leading elite strength and conditioning centres. It will enable students, athletes, and squads the opportunity to train together without compromise, whilst creating an important teaching and research environment for our academic ambitions globally”.

“Eleiko are a fundamental part of what makes this new facility so special. Our long-standing relationship with Eleiko at Loughborough is founded on them providing the very best equipment for our elite athletes to use”.

“To be the UK’s first site to have Eleiko’s Plate Dumbbells shows their ongoing dedication to supporting Loughborough’s world-leading athletes and our shared ambition to create the global-leading strength and conditioning environment at Loughborough”.