Wheeldon will now go on to compete in the WFF World Championships at the Gold Coast on Sunday, November 2. 

Wheeldon said despite wanting to win the title, he was still pleased with third place. 

“I was a little disappointed but now I am getting back into the training to prepare for the world championships,” he said. 

The 38-year-old said it was a great experience being in the nationals but there was a worrying moment where he weighed in at 700 grams over his allowed weight of 87kg.

“The night before the weigh in I had been in the sauna and then when I was that 700 grams over I put on sweatsuits and hoodies and jumped on the treadmill for 20 minutes,” Wheeldon said. 

“It is a very odd sport when analysed but it is enjoyable.”

 As part of his preparation for the world championships, Wheeldon is now training up to four times a day with a normal routine including 5.30am cardio, 10am cardio and weights, 3pm infrared sauna in Orange and 8pm cardio.

“It is very intense but this is my first time at competing in the world championships so I have to make the most of it,” Wheeldon said. 

After the nationals, Wheeldon put on 14kgs in two days so he now has to prepare his body again to get to the 87kg limit. 

“I am in different person within a couple of days after the competition as my body weight is not normally 87kg,” he explained. 

“My diet has included carbohydrates this week but next week it will change again and I will be just eating just chicken and broccoli until the event. 

“It is the most extreme time of the preparation as it is all about getting the weight down.

“At the moment I am 96.2kg so that’s why I have to keep working hard.” 

Wheeldon said despite what result he gets at the world championships he will continue competing for at least another year.  

“I will have a break for a few weeks after the championships but then I will get back into the training to prepare for next year’s competitions.”