Rochdale powerlifter wins bronze at International World Championships

A Rochdale powerlifter has brought home bronze from the International Powerlifting Federation World Championships in Sweden.

Genevieve Collins, 40, represented Team GB at the championships in Sweden last month, where she won a bronze medal and podium position in the Women's Masters 1 category (63kg-69kg) after squatting 145kg, benching 82.5kg and deadlifting 167kg. Powerlifters have three attempts at each to build their total score with the highest winning their category. Her total score was 395.0.

The mum-of-three described the experience as being “nerve-wracking” but said she was “ecstatic” to achieve such a high total score in her first outing, adding that she finds working out an “empowering” experience.

She explained: “I love being able to go to the gym. A lot of women think they are going to become bulky, but that’s not the case. It’s very empowering.

“I had an amazing time amongst the strongest ladies in the world. I love lifting and being amongst such inspiring women and am so thankful I had this opportunity.”

 

 

Genevieve picked up the amateur sport five years ago when she was recovering from a knee injury; a personal trainer at Full Contact suggested attempting it during her sports rehabilitation. She had previously played a lot of netball and was a regular gym-goer before falling in love with power lifting.

Genevieve, who has her own cake baking business, Rocco Cocoa Cakes, competed in her first national contest before Covid struck, where she placed fourth, qualifying for the British Masters, which she won in July this year, cementing her a spot on the GB squad. Prior to these, she had taken part in eight regional contests and championships, placing consistently between first and fourth place.

 

 

Now working at Full Contact Performance Centre where she still trains, Genevieve hopes to attend next year’s world championships in Canada and the European championships in Lithuania, and is looking for sponsorship to get her there.

She said: “Because it’s an amateur sport, there’s no money. Next year’s worlds and the European championships are two big ones I’d like to compete in and fight for a podium position; hopefully I’ll do a bit better than third – I’d try to get gold.”

This year she was sponsored by Amber Pets, Carter & Carter Solicitors, and The Merry Monk.

To help Genevieve get to next year’s competitions, please visit GoFundMe:

• www.gofundme.com/f/international-powerlifting-competitions