Career
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he developed meningitis as an infant which severely affected his immune system and stunted his growth. As a result he was short and very underweight as a child. Rutherford began weight training after being bullied at school.
In 1985, aged 15, and at a body weight of only 79 pounds (36 kg) he took up the sport of powerlifting.
He competed as junior lifter until 1989. In March 2007 he promised his nine-year-old son he would make an improbable comeback after watching the film Rocky Balboa, starring Sylvester Stallone, which was all about Rocky being older but making a ring comeback.
European Silver medallist 2007
World Bronze Medallist 2009.