10 July 2025<\/time>\n <\/p>\nOnce used to \u2018prove\u2019 manhood, weightlifting is now a test of strength for everyone and picking up the weights are young women.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More female gym goers are adding weights to their workouts.<\/p>\n
In recent years, especially with the rise of social media, lifting amongst female gym goers has increased.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a growing awareness and popularity about the health benefits of resistance training, weightlifting is no longer a male sport but is being incorporated in workouts by all genders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Women\u2019s Olympic weightlifting debuted in 2000, only 10% of women participated in strength training.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Less than a quarter century later, that number has almost tripled, with 27% of women now adding lifting into their workouts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amongst them is amateur powerlifter, Ivana Baker.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having grown up with dumbbells in her home and a bodybuilding mother, Baker is no stranger to weights.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She has had an on-and-off relationship with resistance training before taking lifting seriously by joining a weightlifting society at university.\u00a0<\/p>\n
From there, Baker \u201cstarted training more towards the powerlifting side, and I started doing more competition and meets with others, and now I\u2019m here\u201d.<\/p>\n
Despite the sport\u2019s\u00a0tournaments\u00a0being male-dominated, Baker would not give up the feeling that powerlifting gives her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel empowered and happy. For me, it\u2019s something that feels very me. I feel very strong when I do it. It feels like I\u2019m me, I don\u2019t know how to explain that.\u201d<\/p>\n
A \u2018Bright\u2019 Future\u00a0<\/h2>\n Weightlifting amongst female gymgoers like Ivana Baker is certainly here to stay.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And in terms of the professional sport, the future of female weightlifting also looks \u201cbright\u201d according to British Olympian Emily Campbell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a strong army of women in the UK and the world that want to weightlift, that want to be strong, that see weights as part of their routine, as a part of their lifestyle and are promoting it a lot more,\u201d says the two-time Olympic medalist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s an amazing space to be in right now, and it\u2019s definitely growing, and I hope that more and more young girls are inspired to be beautiful and strong\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Check out the full interview here:\u00a0<\/p>\n
MORE FROM VANELY BARUMIRE:\u00a0Silverstone – A Festival Like No Other\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n by Vanely Barumire<\/span> for www.femalefirst.co.uk <\/a> and follow me on <\/p>\n