2 months ago
7
Having been selected to represent Jamaica at the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) Regional Powerlifting Championships in the Cayman Islands, Anna-Kay Brown is on a mission to achieve her target of US $1,800 on her GoFundMe campaign to ensure she is able to make the trip.
Brown is hoping to make her second-ever appearance at the competition as she made history last year, becoming the first Jamaican to compete in the junior powerlifting category.
She had marked the historic occasion with a bronze medal in the women’s 84 kilogramme (kg) weight class.
She recalled the experience as a life-changing moment which exposed her to the influence of powerlifting on the international stage.
“I’ve always been an anxious person and I even cried at my first meet. But going and representing my country, I think that was just a whole different feeling,” she said.
“I felt so confident being on the international stage and it was such a great experience meeting all these other lifters and seeing that powerlifting exists outside of Jamaica on such a large scale. I felt so inspired and I think that was one of the reasons why it went so smoothly for me.”
Now on the brink of creating further history, it is a race against time for the powerlifter who will need to hit her financial target by June 20 to ensure she can compete at the championship set to begin July 26.
“In January of this year, I competed at the national championships where I was the victor in my weight class so I was automatically selected to compete this year in Cayman,” Brown told The Gleaner.
As of press time, Brown had raised US$720, leaving her with a remaining target of just over US$1,000.
She also explained she has been in conversation with the National Powerlifting Association of Jamaica regarding securing further sponsorships.
Her journey in powerlifting is one that was born from curiosity, which soon blossomed into a story of success, lofty ambitions and inspiration.
The Titchfield High alumna explained she was initially drawn to the sport after a friend had invited her to watch a local competition.
Brown, who was a casual gym enthusiast at the time, said having seen the competition, she was immediately drawn to the sport and was determined to compete herself.
“My friend invited me to watch him compete at the championships and I don’t think I’ve ever been that comfortable just sitting for eight hours,” she recalled.
“I was so inspired and I said to my friend that this is what I wanted to do. I want to do this, I have to do this and now I am here.”
ASPIRE TO INSPIRE
She explained her goal in powerlifting is to not just reach the highest heights of the sport, but to also inspire other women to follow their dreams.
Just like other female powerlifters like Sami DePass had inspired her to achieve her goals, she too wants to inspire those following her.
At just 21 years old, Brown is hoping to set an example by following her life’s mantra, ‘aspire to inspire’.
“My motto is, and as always been, to aspire to inspire. So if it is that I can inspire even one person to say I can try this and I can do this, then I have completed my goal,” she explained.
“I am a personal trainer so my clients, when they start, they say I can’t do this so I explain to them that I am here, and I am not just a trainer, but I am also an athlete.
“Powerlifting is not just lifting to just look strong, you’re doing this to strengthen your mental, your physical, your emotional and powerlifting has made me a stronger person.”
English (US) ·