GAPLF’s Women celebrates International Women’s day-Hold Powerlifting exhibition yesterday
Mar 11, 2018 , https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...xhibition-yesterday/
By Sean Devers
Yesterday at Pollo Tropical on Camp and Robb streets Lacytown, Female members of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) celebrated International Women’s day (observed last week Thursday) with a Powerlifting exhibition.
GAPLF’s Women at an event to celebrate International Women’s day.
The exhibition which lasted from 11:00hrs to 13:00hrs saw the female Power lifters and volunteers demonstrating the various types of lifts with the first woman to volunteer, Christian Baird, a communications student at UG and an employee of Fashion Square Outlet, along with others who walked of off the Street to try their hands at Power lifting, receiving prizes of a branded Gym bottle with GAPLF’s logo.
Thirteen Women, including two teenagers, all National and International Power lifters, were present to do demonstrations, hand out leaflets and provide information on the Sport.
Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift.
As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximal weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates.
Christine Baird, a UG student who works at Fashion square Outlet, was the first Volunteer yesterday.
Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as “odd lifts”, which followed the same three-attempt format but used a wider variety of events, akin to strongman competition.
It is a Sport that requires its athletes to be both mentally and physically prepared to execute the lifts.
According to female lifters, Women first competed in Powerlifting at the ‘World level’ in 1980 and since then have participated in Regional and International competitions such as Commonwealth and World events.
Those present yesterday said that Powerlifting has been traditionally dominated by Men over the last 13 years.
“Women are now putting in outstanding performances in the Sports displaying Strength, Character and professionalism both on and off the platform,” explained Kathleen Paul, a physiotherapist by profession.
“We did this event since we wanted to showcase mothers, housewives, those who work in normal jobs and University students among others who are involved in the Sport at the National and international level,” Paul continued.
She added that the Sport also helps with stress relief and encourages healthy life style since drinking and smoking are bad for the Sport.
Among those giving demonstrations was 18-year-old Britney Mack, who at 90 pounds lifted a weight of 132 pounds. She is a Commonwealth, Pan Am and National Medalist.
The youngest member of the team was Tiniesha Tony. The 18-year-old is a student at UG and her Mother, Jackey Tony is an entrepreneur and a grandmother. Both are involved in the Sport.
The younger Tony disclosed that she became interested in Powerlifting two years ago due to her friend’s father who was an International Powerlifter.
Britny Mack at 18 is a Commonwealth, Pam Am and Guyana Medalist.
“I remember I was about 14 when my friend’s dad put down a 145 pound weight and I lifted. I got involved seriously in the a few years after,” Tiniesha recounted.
GAPLF’s 2018 Novice/Juniors National Championships saw the first-time participation of four females and the GAPLF is committed to continue paving the way for upcoming female Power lifters alongside their seasoned peers.
The GAPLF invites females to join the sport and to challenge themselves to debunk the stereotypes attached to Women who lift weights.