Local mom, nurse sets records at local powerlifting competition

IDAHO FALLS — In 2016, Brittany Ward, a mother and caregiver astatine Portneuf Medical Center, wholly changed her life. She ditched what she called a sedentary manner and threw herself into beingness condition.

Last week, she group authorities and nationalist records successful powerlifting.

At nan AWPC-WPC World Cup successful Idaho Falls, Ward squatted 110 kg (around 243 pounds), chair pressed 72.5 kg (160) and deadlifted 122.5 kg (270). Each full was a grounds for her section — which is surgery down not only by her age, 46, and weight, 148 pounds, but besides by her classification arsenic a first responder.

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She told EastIdahoNews.com that 1 of nan nosy things astir powerlifting is mounting goals and busting your butt to scope those goals.

“I had numbers that I wanted to beat, and I hit each of those numbers. That’s what was important to me,” Ward said of her capacity successful Idaho Falls.

At nan extremity of nan three-day event, Ward received medals arsenic good arsenic a trophy for nickname arsenic nan astir improved and inspirational lifter.

Ward’s medals and trophy from nan Idaho Falls event. | Courtesy photo

Ward joined 8 different women successful nan title — including Isabella Suseno-Edwin, from Idaho Falls, Layla Garcia, from Chubbuck, Angela Key, from Blackfoot, Nikki Cummins, from American Falls, and Amber Lynne Palmer, from Rexburg. Other competitors astatine nan arena were from arsenic acold distant arsenic Belarus and Armenia.

The advantages for section competitors was having family members successful attendance to connection support during lifts.

Two of Ward’s children, including 16-year-old girl Tisana, were seated successful nan mediate of nan assemblage yelling for their mother.

Asked what she thinks of nan travel her mother has taken, Tisana answered immediately: “I deliberation she’s crazy.”

The teen went connected to explicate really difficult nan travel from 350 pounds to nationalist record-holding powerlifter has been, saying she “can’t moreover describe” really inspirational Ward is to her family.

“She’s nan astir dedicated person,” Tisana said. “She gets her mind connected s*** and she gets s*** done.”

Ward said, “My babies are my biggest cheerleaders,” adding that she will immoderate times watch videos of her lifts not to analyse her shape but to perceive to her family. She said astir really her manner alteration has inspired nan aforesaid from her hubby and children.

“If I were to look backmost 8 years ago, I would not person seen my life and my kids’ life nan measurement that it is now,” Ward said.

Now, nan family enjoys moving out, trail-running and going for walks, alternatively than sitting around.

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With 2 powerlifting competitions nether her loop already this year, Ward has 1 much to go, November successful California. Competing astatine that meet will suffice her for bigger nationalist and world competitions.