Photographs by Lawrence Drummond.
Going for Gold – World Powerlifting Championships
It has been a pretty meteoric rise for Steph Horlyck. She has gone from the first-time competitor to winning Bronze overall World Powerlifting Championships stage, in 12 months. This is a huge achievement from someone who wouldn’t even step into a gym because she felt she didn’t fit in with the “well-dressed, skinny people with tight tushies.” In fact, her journey started with a trip to China for her 40th birthday. Steph wanted to be able to climb the Great Wall so she sought the help of a trainer who introduced her to weights. And that is where the passion began.
Photographs by Lawrence Drummond.
The next step was to go from training in the gym to competing with others in weightlifting competitions.
In her own words, Steph has a determination that borders stubbornness, she challenged herself in the gym to lift more and more and that’s when she reached a turning point. She decided to stop worrying about being skinny and just allow the strong competitive person to shine through.
Photographs by Lawrence Drummond.
Steph has found that by setting goals and achieving them she has been able to push herself further and feel better and more confident about her body.
Photographs by Lawrence Drummond.
The decision to continue training and to embrace her body image has changed the way that Steph has approached life. She no longer feels she doesn’t belong in the gym. When she finally made the decision to be strong over being skinny she reached an important point in her body positivity journey.
Photographs by Lawrence Drummond.
Steph has become more and more determined to succeed at what she is good at and has learned to love her body along the way. Achieving new goals along the way has enhanced the way that Steph has approached her life and the fact that she began at 40 lights the way for everyone.