Springs woman to compete at World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Canada
Van Lill continues to improve in her quest to achieve more.
Tanya van Lill won the South African Powerlifting Championships in Potchefstroom last month in the ladies 63kg category.
This win was a huge achievement for van Lill, who was aiming for a podium finish.
“I didn’t expect first place,” says van Lill.
The win in Bloemfontein and the subsequent qualification for the world championships in Calgary, Canada, shows how much van Lill has grown and improved in the sport she only started one year ago.
Initially, van Lill started doing CrossFit after a difficult few months and seeing her determination and rapid improvement, started powerlifting.
The journey has been rewarding for van Lill who only competed in her first South African Powerlifting Championships last year.
“Since I started, I have grown more confident, stronger and empowered.
“The thought of public speaking or a live TV interview does not scare me anymore because I know what I am capable of,” says van Lill.
When not winning a championship, van Lill heads up The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca), which is a non-profit organisation that represents over 160 members in Southern Africa, invests in small start-up businesses, big unlisted businesses and deals with regulatory advocacy.
Van Lill enjoys her job just as much as her sport and would never leave one for the other.
“I’m passionate about what I do and I would never be able to ignore the business part of me.
“As a woman, you don’t have to forgo anything, you can do any and everything you love.
“People always look at me differently when they look at my arms.
“They are amazed that I am a CEO under the age of 40, a mother to a 19-year-old child, as well as a championship powerlifter who is still feminine and wears pink nail polish.
“You don’t have to be pigeonholed into a box,” says van Lill.
For now, van Lill is preparing for the world championships in June.
The dynamic athlete has a programme that she follows, as well as a dedicated team of a chiropractor, coach, sports massage therapist and food coach who help her perform at her best.
It will be her first international competition and van Lill wants to learn from her experience there.
“I want to make myself and the country proud and gain experience.
“It’s about going out there and challenging yourself,” says van Lill.
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