"I love the atmosphere when everyone in the venue is cheering and supporting that one athlete on stage."
Making the switch from bodybuilding to powerlifting, Kyota Usihyama found a whole new community, as well as fun and success in his new sport.
Reaching IPF Worlds just two years after taking to the platform, Japan's Ushiyama qualified for the Sheffield 2023 competition - an event on a totally different scale than he was used to, and one to which he felt more community response than ever before.
Receiving messages from new fans across Asia, including Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese and Thai spectators, he found himself honoured to represent the continent on the Sheffield stage.
He will now return to Sheffield for its second year, returning as the Asian regional representative, with his eyes on taking the 66kg world record total.