Blog: "Powerlifting has made me much more confident in myself"
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year. In 2016 we’ll be taking a look at an A-Z of accessible sporting and fitness opportunities available to disabled people. This week it’s P for powerlifting, and Jemma Robinson discusses how the sport has helped her confidence.
Jemma’s blog:
I first tried powerlifting in 2014, going to Gateshead International Stadium for a taster day. I enjoyed it so much that I asked if it was possible for me to join somewhere where I could regularly train.
My support worker contacted Ashington Hirst Welfare Centre in Northumberland and arranged for myself and several others to go on a Wednesday afternoon for training with recognised coaches.
We have had great support from our coaches who make the sessions enjoyable and encourage us all to do our best. The same bunch of lads that I started with are still going and we have added another couple of participants.
On the advice from our coach I have started training two extra days a week in Blaydon alongside one of our carers, who has taken the powerlifting course. We still use Ashington on a Wednesday for our technical training on the two lifts that I do, the bench press and the deadlift.
I have mild learning difficulties and anxiety as well as being partially deaf, but I have improved a great deal at powerlifting from when I started. In my first competition I managed a 40kg bench press and 70kg deadlift, but at my latest competition I lifted 55kg in the bench press and 105kg in the deadlift.
Powerlifting has made me much more confident in myself. For example, I now feel able to talk to strangers without feeling nervous – it’s a great feeling.
Through powerlifting I have been able to win some medals and trophies, and winning is the biggest thrill ever.
I have also been invited to talk of my experiences in powerlifting, acting as an ambassador for Gateshead Special Needs – this year I was named Disability Sports North East, Female Sports Personality of the Year!
Although I compete in other sports, powerlifting has been the sport that gives me the most pleasure. I look forward to even greater achievements over the next few years.
