ABIGAIL Fisher (19) of Warner Beach received gold in her debut at the WPC World Powerlifting Championships held in Manchester, United Kingdom, earlier this month.

This is the athlete’s third competition but first international one since getting into the sport last year. “It was an intense competition, a completely new experience. South Africa took a team of 17 lifters, whereas Australia, for example, had 43. It was much stricter than any of our local competitions; if you don’t get to the bar and start the lift before the timer goes off, that’s it,” she said.

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The support and camaraderie within the South African team left a lasting impression on her, turning the challenging competition into a memorable and enjoyable experience.

“The biggest challenge was getting up on stage and perfectly executing the lift. I ended up on a 175kg squat. I bombed out on my last goal squat of 180kg because of depth. I also did Bench and Deadlift. I placed first place in my age and weight category,” said Fisher.

Her journey into powerlifting began about a year ago after she was inspired and encouraged by a friend who was taking part in nationals. In March, she qualified for nationals, which took place in May. She came first in her category and qualified for the world champs. “Blood, sweat and tears is what it took to reach this point. I’ve been training consistently since January,” said Fisher.

Every three weeks, she travels to Richards Bay for specialised training. The rest of the time, she can be found at a local gym focusing on specific techniques on specific days.

Fisher said, “Powerlifting is my life. Every day I look forward to training. As much as it’s a physical sport, the mental aspect plays a huge role. Music helps get me pumped up and focused.”

In April, she and her mother, Tarryn, will be taking part in the Clash of the Titans in Hillcrest. Her mother said, “As a local and national referee, I’m required to take part in at least one competition a year. I love the vibe, the people and the support; it just drew me in.”

The determined individual now has her sights set on an even bigger goal: to squat 200kg.

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