Page 41 - Real Rochdale Issue 12 Winter 2021

Rochdale powerlifter wins bronze at
International World Championships
Photo: White Lights Media
A powerlifter from Rochdale has brought home
bronze from the International Powerlifting
Federation World Championships in Sweden.
Genevieve Collins, 41, represented Team GB
at the championships in Sweden in September,
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.
The mum-of-three described the experience as
“nerve-wracking”, but said she was “ecstatic” to
achieve bronze in her first outing.
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
REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2021 40
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 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.”
Genevieve was sponsored by Carter & Carter
Solicitors, Amber Pets and The Merry Monk.
41 REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2021