Evolution of a Century (now on About Us)

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Our History

Century Strength & Conditioning as we know it today, evolved from a hybrid background including the Australian Army, Licensee provider to a national bootcamp brand, resilience training at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), and educational pursuits in sports coaching and exercise science. The team behind Century have been training outdoors in Canberra since 2010 and is the largest and most successful of its kind here in the nation’s capital.

Century’s Co-Founder and Head Coach, Steve Bingley first realised the importance of Strength and Conditioning while serving in both the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment as a Paratrooper and the 1st Armoured Regiment as an M113 Armoured crewman. The high performance tactical needs and regimented process of achieving optimal fitness as a soldier were very evident, especially in frontline combat units. Steve’s experience in the Army became the cornerstone of his disciplined coaching style and even in the earliest days as a fitness professional, his programming delivery.

Combining his Army background, with his wife Mel’s background in business and marketing and their shared fitness expertise, they returned to Steve’s home town of Canberra and became Licensee bootcamp providers in Woden & Gungahlin for a highly respected national brand. For almost 8 years they operated the largest and most successful outdoor bootcamp transformation program in Canberra, helping thousands of people (our athletes) achieve remarkable results.

While coaching bootcamp Steve met mentor and friend Dr. David T. Martin, former Senior Sports Physiologist with the AIS and current Director of Performance Research & Development with the Philadelphia 76ers NBA team. Along with Dr. Martin and a team of specialists and consultants at the AIS, Steve deployed training specific initiatives for talent identification and cultural development in line with Australia’s Winning Edge Strategy. Integral to the success of these initiatives was the tactical strength and conditioning programming that Steve developed and implemented.

While working with the AIS, Steve was offered the opportunity to build on his degree in sports coaching and exercise science by commencing a Masters degree in exercise science (research) in partnership with the AIS and University of Canberra. Steve’s research field is based around the use of traditional bodyweight exercises, like the burpee, and its role in a modern strength and conditioning environment.

Together, it dawned on Steve and Mel that there was an opportunity to combine their experience and drive to help others succeed by providing high performance, science-based fitness solutions to the community. This was the moment Century Strength & Conditioning was born.

Officially launching in July 2018, Century’s mission is to be leaders in strength & conditioning; providing exceptional high performance, science based fitness solutions for athletes of all abilities in an environment that fosters growth, builds capacity, and achieves remarkable results.

This is the dawn of a new century in athletic performance—one that will identify and unlock one’s infinitus potentia (infinite potential).