Women with weights: how they found their strength in what was once a man's world

Katie Mclean, 22, student and Bartender, weightlifting since 2017

Women around the world face barriers every single day, even today. But they refuse to let this prevent them from succeeding, pushing past barriers in every corner of society.

Today, women with weights are more fierce than ever, finding and building their strength in what was once a man's world.

According to a study by Fitrated over 70% of women have had an experience that's made them feel uncomfortable in their gym. Only 22% of women said that someone intervened after they experienced an uncomfortable situation.

But, in an era where social media platforms like Instagram and Tiktok have risen, women are taking it upon themselves to empower each other and destroy any stereotypes or fear that prevent them from doing the things they're passionate about.

Klaudia Labuz, a twenty-one-year-old full-time student has been weightlifting since she was just fifteen years old. Klaudia opened up about the barriers she faces in the gym:

'It is the judgment that I get from men when I go into the free weights area. I get comments from men which often question my strength by saying things like "are you sure you can lift that?" One guy even stood behind me as I was getting ready to squat, he assumed that I needed a spotter because of the weight on the bar.'

The biggest thing Klaudia feels she has achieved inside the gym is most certainly her physique. 'I always wanted to be quite muscular, I also gained a lot of strength and surprised myself at how far I can push myself.

'You have to stand up for yourself when others try to put you down', Klaudia finished.

Katie Mclean, twenty-two and a full-time student began weightlifting in 2017 as part of CrossFit but moved her focus onto weightlifting as of 2019. Katie's experience in a gym has been very lucky in that she 'trains at a CrossFit gym where men and women train equally and it is an incredibly supportive environment, especially for women,' but her previous partners have impacted her experience as a female weightlifter.

'My first boyfriend also did CrossFit and he would always make a point of it that he was physically strong and faster than me. Anytime I’d hit a personal best he would lift the same weight. He never said it but I get the feeling it was to prove to me that he was still stronger,' Katie said.

She continued 'My last partner was very insecure in that I trained daily around men that were much fitter and stronger than him and had the classic defined abs, big biceps, shoulders, and legs. It was insecurity on his behalf because I’m bisexual and the majority of the women I train with are also incredibly attractive; small waists, abs, and bums, but he didn’t appear to have any problem with them, it was only the men.'

Katie, training at her CrossFit gym

'I’m known in my gym for my lifting ability and I have done several competitions, of which some I have gold/silver/bronze medals from,' Katie said proudly.

But Katie doesn't just break stereotypical barriers inside the gym: 'Outside the gym, I also hold a pilots license. I spend my weekends at a local airfield gliding,' Katie finished.

Women both young and old are filling the spaces that once couldn't be filled by women.

Brooke Barker, 21

'Currently, my main goal is to get a 100kg deadlift by October,' Brooke Barker, a twenty-one-year-old full-time student said.

'I have more confidence in myself and my mental health is always better when I've been to the gym, there are off days but that's normal. With lifting weights, I've achieved so much! I started lifting a couple of months before lockdown and I've had very limited equipment to train with but I'm amazed to see how far I've come with it all!'

But Brooke's journey hasn't always been filled with confidence as a female weightlifter.

'I definitely say people take advantage of you being a new person in the gym with no confidence. Things like taking weights without asking or taking a machine that you've been waiting for,' Brooke voiced.

'Everyone starts somewhere and it all just takes time,' she finished.

Brooke in February 2021

Times have changed massively for women, and although a range of women still feel as though they are patronised occasionally, they refuse to let that stop them from reaching their goals.

Women's weightlifting categories range from forty-five (kg) to eighty-seven (kg) with forty-five, seventy-one, and eighty-seven kilograms being non-Olympic weightlifting categories.

The two competition lifts include Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Zoe Smith, an English weightlifter who holds 4 clean and jerk records spread across 3 weight classes.

Zoe Smith, Emily Campbell, and Sarah Davies have all been selected for Great Britain's female weightlifting team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this year, inspiring all women across the country.

Good luck, girls!