A weightlifter from West Norfolk – who only took up the sport to help with the effects of the menopause – is a British record breaker.
Julie Garner, from Terrington St Clement, achieved the feat with her third lift in a deadlift competition at Nottingham in the masters four age 55-59 category.
Garner said: “I was completely blown away. The whole thing seemed very surreal but exciting at the same.
“I actually felt very proud of myself, my coach gave me a push to enter as he said I had talent that shouldn’t be wasted.
“I am lucky to have had two excellent coaches who believed in what I was doing.
“Paul Wilson – my first coach in Long Sutton – got me started but he did not do the competitions, so I had to make a change, but I am so grateful to Paul for his support.
“My new coach Paul Carter is a world record holder in powerlifting also so he is able to support me through this next stage of my lifting.
“Going forward, I’m hoping to work towards adding in bench press and squats as I’m already working on these with my coach.”
The 58-year-old, who has been invited to the European and Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships next month, only took up the sport two-and-a-half years ago.
“I started when I was getting lots of aches and pains from going through the menopause,” said Garner.
“I discovered that lifting weights was very helpful for aging women and their mobility, bone and muscle strength, helping reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
“It just started as light weights for 30 minutes, three times a week, and as time went on the weights got heavier.
“I have increased this to three or four times a week with two runs. I also need more rest days to recover because of my age.”
Garner, who trains out of the Royals Gym in Holbeach, hopes her experience will inspire other females to follow in her footsteps.
“I have studied about ladies and menopause and, having suffered a great deal with this myself, I want to get the message across for other ladies to get out to a gym and lift weights,” she said.
“The benefits of this while we are aging is huge. It helps us with our bone health and keeps our muscles strong, it helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
“I help run a menopause group and I work towards empowering ladies to make the right choices for their health and wellbeing as they age and go through their menopause.”
