Powerlifting nurse Siobhan Taylor from Haverhill, Suffolk has recently become the world champion in the sport with her record-breaking bench press. She began powerlifting at 39 years old to recover from a back injury and was selected to represent Great Britain after just six years in the sport.
Taylor’s 185kg bench press in the 84kg Masters 1 category in Austin, Texas set new British and Commonwealth records. She expressed feeling “elated” to achieve her world champion status, emphasizing that powerlifting is a sport for people of all shapes and sizes. Taylor shared that she initially turned to powerlifting to overcome a back injury that could have jeopardized her nursing job at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
After her victory, Taylor was surprised to learn that her bench press exceeded the previous British record by 22kg. She described the experience of becoming a world champion as both surreal and rewarding, highlighting the hard work and support that led her to this accomplishment. Taylor expressed gratitude to her colleagues who watched a live stream of the competition at the hospital and shared her excitement on social media.
Looking ahead, Taylor aims to defend her title at the upcoming European Championships. Despite her remarkable achievement, she has opted to celebrate with a simple cup of tea for now.
