Kathryn selected for NI powerlifting team

Kathryn selected for NI powerlifting team

15 May 2019

A SUPER-FIT Crossgar mum is going for gold in the gruelling world of international powerlifting.

Kathryn Stewart will be flexing her muscles when she competes for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Canada later this year.

It’s a remarkable achievement for the mother-of-three given that she’s 48 and only took up the sport six months ago.

She says she had to think long and hard about leaving her young family for a short time and grasping what she described as the chance of a lifetime.

“I couldn’t believe it when I was asked to be part of the Northern Ireland team,” she said. “I was jumping on the sofa. It’s such an opportunity and I decided to take it.”

The championships take place in St John’s, Newfoundland, in September. Kathryn will be competing in the Masters 1 category for over 40s and the competition will have three disciplines — squat, bench press and dead lift.

Kathryn, who is a personal fitness instructor, started powerlifting last November and quickly discovered she had a natural talent for the sport.

She entered three competitions — and won them all — which led to the invitation to represent Northern Ireland.

However, international competition was the last thing on her mind at the  time. 

“I just wanted to do something different,” she said. “It wasn’t about winning competitions, being selected for a team or even getting a body which looked good on the beach.

“It was about training to get stronger, physically and mentally. That was the goal and I focused on it. I felt I needed a new direction and the training helped me cope with other problems. After a good work-out I felt I could handle anything.”

Kathryn, who has an eight year-old daughter and twin seven year-old boys, says she couldn’t believe it when she was invited to go to Canada.

“I was totally over the moon, but at the same time part of me told me that I wasn’t ready and that all of this was happening too soon.

“Being a mum I was torn between the excitement of going to Canada and the guilt of leaving my children behind. Partly because of my age, I decided to go for it. Everyone I know told me go to because I really did work hard.”

Kathryn says she has received great support from the staff and members of Downpatrick Boxing Academy where she trains. “They encouraged me when I was having a crisis in confidence,” she remarked. She also uses the impressive weight training facilities at Down Leisure Centre.

Kathryn needs to raise some money to get to the championships in Canada and is appealing to local businesses, organisations and individuals for support.

Donations can be made at Downpatrick Boxing Academy, or directly to Kathryn by contacting her at kathryn71stewart@icloud.com, or by going to Go 

fund me Kath’s powerlifting commonwealth Canada 2019.

Kathryn says she hopes she can be an example to other women. 

“As a 48 year-old mother I would like to encourage other women to have the confidence to step out of their comfort zone and do something different.

“The championships are less than four months away and it’s a bit of a struggle juggling to find the time to train and look after my family. But I’m going to do it because I want them to be proud of me.”