Lifting Through Inequality:
One of Britain’s immerging talents in powerlifting Emily Byrne speaks out about the gender inequalities in the weightlifting world, Libby Dovaston reports.
21-year-old, world champion powerlifter Emily Byrne says she faces any negativity head on, reminding herself that she is doing it for herself and nobody else. Approaching every competition with a good mindset and ready to prove what she is capable of, turning her nerves into a good thing, and using them to make herself stronger.
Emily Byrne representing GB
Women’s weightlifting continues to experience unprecedented growth, with athletes around the world not only challenging themselves and their competitors but also challenging gender stereotypes in this sport. Among them is rising British powerlifter Emily Byrne. She shared insights into her experiences in the sport, highlighting both its progress and the challenges that remain.
Emily Byrne’s dedication over the past two years has paid off, and she has had many achievements in weightlifting. She says her proudest moment is representing Team GB at the powerlifting world championships. Even though she strived for this, she always thought it was an opportunity that was beyond reach. “It’s an experience I’ll always be grateful for,” she said. “I never thought I’d get there when I did my first powerlifting competition.”
Emily Byrne weightlifting
But her journey has not been without obstacles. Like many sports, powerlifting faces an undeniable gender divide. Recent British Powerlifting statistics show that out of 4,371 members, only 1,554 are female, making up just 35.5%, compared to 64.5% male lifters. The numbers highlight the ongoing imbalance in participation.
Statistics showing the gender divide in weightlifting
Byrne says, “I’ve experienced some men looking down on women who lift weights.” She further explains she has “never experienced this from men who lift weights themselves, only from men who don’t. I believe these selected people don’t understand the commitment, hard work, and determination required to achieve strength-related goals, and this is why I think they may look down on us.”
Emily Byrne weightlifting
Despite this, Byrne describes the weightlifting community as a welcoming culture and everyone is supportive, which has given her the drive to continue her passion. She says, “It's very empowering seeing more and more women breaking previous stereotypes and showing themselves what they are truly capable of.” But the sporting world still needs to change, she says, “we need more strong female role models” as well as a supportive and non-judgmental environment. “This is crucial to encourage more females to try out the sport and hopefully show them what they can achieve if they put their mind to something.”
Emily Byrne’s Top Tips
For an exclusive behind the scenes interview with Emily visit:
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Libby Dovaston