Brian Marsden

Weightlifter Brian Marsden did New Zealand proud during the 1970s.

Marsden, born in Masterton in 1947, competed at two Olympics, where he found the going tough, and two Commonwealth Games, which produced two medals for him.

His first Games was the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he competed in the 82.5kg category and finished 12th in a field of 24. He managed 142.5kg in the press, 120kg in the snatch and 172.5kg in the jerk, for a total of 435kg.

At Christchurch in the 1974 Commonwealth Games, he was outstanding in the 90kg division, which was named middle-heavy. Marsden had to concede best to Australian Nick Cianco, who won his second successive Games gold medal, but put up a great battle. After a snatch of 135kg, he knew he’d have to be at his best to get among the medals.

The Official History of the Xth Commonwealth Games records: “Ciancio brought to the lifting platform an unmistakable air of a master performer… Undeterred by Ciancio’s reputation, Marsden fought courageously throughout and it was not until his last lift that the result was settled. Marsden is noted for his prowess in the jerk, which he displayed to full effect in his opening lift, breaking the Games record with 180kg, 5kg above the previous record…

“Marsden then produced easily the finest form of his career. He had two lifts left, but decided to go for the jump of 17.5kg required for outright victory. He cleaned the weight to shoulder height and looked solid and capable of completing the lift. Only the sapping of his strength from his tremendous clean narrowly defeated him.”

In the end, Ciancio totalled 330kg and Barrett 315kg.

Marsden attended the world champs in Moscow in 1975, finishing 12th with a total of 330kg. 

On to Montreal for the 1976 Olympics, where he ended up 11th of 19 lifters in the 90kg class. He snatched 137.5kg and jerked 185kg for a total of 322.5kg, a solid performance but still a long way behind the powerhouses in front of him.

He completed his Games career at Edmonton in the 1978 Commonwealth Games, claiming a well-won bronze medal in the 90kg grade. Marsden snatched 137.5kg and jerked 175kg for a total of 312.5kg, some distance behind the gold and silver medals but still comfortably in 3rd place.

During the 1970s, Marsden scooped up nine national titles. He won the 82.5kg category in 1971, 75, 79 and 80, and the 90kg grade in 1973, 74, 76, 77 and 78.

Marsden, who has lived in New Plymouth most of his life, ran a gym in his earlier years but beginning in the 1980s established himself in the building industry. His development company of Maia Developments was extremely successful. Before Maia Developments, there was Marsden Machinery and Marsden Concrete Products.