Aug 23, 2026 – 5.00amBlinking back the sweat, a muscle-bound man grimaces as he steadies a 140-kilogram barbell at shoulder height. Dipping at the knees, he drives upwards to send it surging aloft, his arms trembling in a battle between gravity and brute force. He pauses momentarily, then drops the barbell to the ground with a clang. “Nice, Tommy!” yells one of his mates, before lining up to take his place.Inside 98’s flagship gym above the Sydney Swans’ HQ in Moore Park, this is just the start. Seven men and three women are pushing through a battery of barbell lifts before tackling an evil mix of kettlebell snatches, walking lunges and shuttle runs. Then it’s straight onto the endurance work: splicing burpees with intervals on the rowing machine and SkiErg, a machine evoking the cardio burn of cross-country skiing.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Luke BenedictusWatch editorLuke Benedictus is watch editor of The Australian Financial Review. He also writes about wellness.Fetching latest articles