Powerlifter fights through cancer to qualify for world champs

Liesl van der Merwe is powering through breast cancer while continuing her passion for powerlifting.

Dressed in a t-shirt emblazoned with the words, Just stand up, Van der Merwe stood tall during the World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) South African championships at Urban Shack Benoni, at Old Bens Sports Club, held from June 13 to 15.

Despite being in the fifth month of a tough treatment, she displayed brute strength and fought through fatigue and pain in her muscles to qualify for the World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) championships in Durban in November.

“This is a big challenge for me. I’m still growing in powerlifting. Unfortunately, I’m not as strong as I want to be. But I’ve qualified for the worlds in Durban. I can’t wait for that,” she said.

Van der Merwe was diagnosed with breast cancer in January. She was shocked when she heard the news because cancer “is not in my family” and “I’m healthy; don’t smoke or drink”.

While it altered the course of her life, it also unleashed the fighter in her. She kept her head strong and prepared herself for the biggest fight of her life.

“In my second month, I had pain in my muscles. I couldn’t even fathom how I was going to do it in my fifth month. But I felt I was going to go forward and fight this disease.

“From the start, I accepted that it has happened and that it could have been worse. I could have been on stage four. I’m only on stage two and I felt I could beat it.”

Though the positivity from her family, fellowship and friends – who told her to just stand up every day – was crucial, all the questions she had about ‘why me’, were answered at training.

“The treatment has affected me severely. I’m not as strong as I used to be. I’m a little bit tired. The positive thing for me was training. I kept on training. It has given me energy. It has helped me push through the pain. It pulled me through,” Van der Merwe said.

Her chemotherapy treatment over the past few months “hasn’t been a nice experience”. She’s just a month away from undergoing surgery. Afterwards, she’ll take time off to recover and then begin her preparation for her first world champs.

“I will only be competing in the deadlift. I feel I’m going to be stronger than I am now because I won’t have chemo. I’m going to try my best. It’s my first year of competing. I’m going to try to break a record. I’m going to train hard.”

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