Deborah is an ex-powerlifting champ and current weightlifter.
Age: 30
Height: 159cm (5'2.5")
Weight: 52kg
Competition weight: under 53kg
Biceps unflexed: 11", Flexed: 12 3/4"
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Job: Teacher
Hobbies / Interests: weightlifting, reading, fine dining and travelling
Favourite films / TV shows: I enjoy action, comedy, and drama.
Favourite music: a bit of everything, top 40, rock, hip hop, r&b, retro, dance
Were you always strong or muscular? Any childhood memories you can share? Yes I have always been strong. I could out-chin all classmates boys and girls when I was 12, doing 12 chin-ups. I also use to beat most boys at armwrestles. I often had push-up competitions with my father and brothers and could do 50 push-ups (from the feet) at the age of 12.
What other sports have you participated in? Mainly athletics and gymnastics. I became an aerobics instructor and learn to swim instructor in my early 20's and enjoyed that for a few years. I also use to love middle to long distance running and went in 6 City to Surfs and 2 half marathons.
When/Why did you start lifting weights? I started lifting heavy weights in 2001, although I had done some bench press and general machine weights on and off for years. I did Powerlifting from June 2001 - December 2002, then changed over to weightlifting. I love it!
What motivates you to train? I love the challenge. It makes me feel great and I love to keep improving.
How do men and women react to your strength or muscularity? They are quite often surprised at my strength as I am not a big person.
What are your future goals? To be the best weightlifter I can be.
Personal bests:
BenchPress: 90kg @ 50kg bodyweight (Australian and Oceania Powerlifting record holder and Champion 2002)
Bicep Curls: I didn't do these very much, but I have done around 35kg for a few reps
Squats: 130kg (wearing powerlifting suit and knee wraps), 105kg, no assistance
Deadlift: 152.5kg @ 50kg bodyweight (Australian and Oceania record holder and champion 2002 Powerlifting Australia) 160kg in training
Clean & Jerk: 85kg
Snatch: 65kg
Chin-ups: 18 &3/4 (current champ on this website - but I plan to do more later!)
Push-ups: 62 in one minute (from the feet - non-girly push-ups)
Any other feats of strength: 12 dips with 20kg around my waist, 8 Dips with 25kg weight around my waist
Competition highlights: Going to Germany for the women's world powerlifting championships in May 2002. This was only my second competition ever and I had been powerlifting less than 12 months. Oceania Powerlifting championships 2002 in New Zealand, where I broke 3 Oceania and 3 National records. National record holder for all lifts in 52kg category in Powerlifting in only one year of competition.
Could you share some of your training routine with us: Lots of squats and exercises for the snatch and clean and jerk. I also like to walk my dog regularly.
Gallery of Deborah in the park
Gallery of Deborah in the gym
Gallery of Deborah outside
Gallery of Deborah and Mary
Video Clips:
Deborah doing chin-ups (10.5Mb)
Deborah doing a chin-up with legs straight out (3.5Mb)
Deborah doing leg raises (3.5Mb)
Deborah doing assisted one hand chin-ups (3.7Mb)
Deborah doing a few overhand pull-ups (4.2Mb)
Snatch by Deborah (3.1Mb)
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