POWERLIFTER Larry Whyte is aiming to finish his international career in style by defending his world title.

Whyte, from Evesham, heads out to Italy this week to compete in the Drug Free Powerlifting Association World Championships.

The 50-year-old won the crown in Australia last year and, after being talked out of retirement, has since added the Midlands, British and European titles to his collection.

But this will be his last competition abroad because of work commitments in Gloucester and a whole host of projects to promote the sport.

Whyte, also a personal trainer, is currently being coached in the art of motivational speaking, ahead of a presentation at Long Lartin Prison next week, and has plans to write a book called The Life of Iron.

He said: "Nobody wanted me to quit. They feel I have done such a good job in promoting the sport. The Australian organiser calls me the one-man PR show.

"This should be my last international event because I have got so many other things on and it's becoming impossible."

Whyte, who will compete in the unequipped deadlift, equipped deadlift and bench press this weekend, would like nothing better than to bow out at the top.

But his bid to break his own world records in all three disciplines have been dealt a blow after he injured his back successfully defending his Midlands honours in Cheltenham at the weekend.

Whyte, who also set a new bench press marker at Cheltenham, said: "The idea is to finish on a high internationally. Nobody has broken the records I hold in the last year and I was hoping to go out to Italy and push them further.

"I am pretty confident but if I am having trouble I will know after the first lift and will just try and do enough to win."