2 months ago
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STANDING AS one of the premier female junior powerlifters in Jamaica, Anna-Kay Brown is ready to blaze a trail as she boldly declares, in a male-dominated sport, that women can be strong too.
Brown is currently preparing for the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) Regional Powerlifting Championships where she will be hopeful she can improve on her bronze medal finish in the women’s 84 kilogramme (kg) weight class from last year.
The powerlifter has launched a GoFundMe to help raise a targeted sum of US$1,800 to cover her travel expenses for the championships.
Speaking with The Gleaner, Brown said while she has faced several deterrents in her budding powerlifting career, she remains resolute in her training as she believes women can be strong as well.
“I get that pushback mostly from spectators or people who do not know about the sport and they say to me ‘Oh, but you’re a girl, you shouldn’t be doing this’,” Brown said.
“So I want people to know that women are strong too. A woman brought you into this world and that took incredible strength, so women can be strong too.”
Brown, who is a certified strength coach, recalled several situations where her credentials in the gym had been questioned simply on the basis of her gender.
She explained this is an issue female powerlifters worldwide often have to deal with during their careers.
“In this new age where we have social media, women powerlifters worldwide when we post our journey or our lifts, there is almost always men in the comments saying this is not how you do that,” she explained.
“I actually get it a lot in the gym where, even as a personal trainer, you will try giving advice to a man and he either ignores it, or he asks another man to confirm.”
Brown began her powerlifting journey after being invited by a friend to a local competition where she would fall in love with the sport.
Interested in competing herself, she would leverage her position as an employee at Digicel to gain free access to the TUFF Fitness gym, where several of Jamaica’s powerlifters train.
She said exploring powerlifting has been a wonderful experience as she had been welcomed with open arms by her peers, both male and female.
Now a national champion, Brown believes it is important for women to be confident in their skills and to demand the respect of those around them.
“I’ve always felt welcomed. I think within the powerlifting community – and I can only speak to what I experience in Jamaica – the men are actually supportive,” she said.
“In powerlifting, as women, we have to take up space so that the bystanders and everyone can know that this is not just a man thing, this is a people thing and everyone can do it. I am doing it and everyone in the space will keep doing it.”
Her message of equality also comes at a time where she believes the spotlight on crime against women is being shone the brightest.
“Especially in the current crime climate as well in Jamaica. I think it is extremely important for women to be strong. Women deserve to take up as much space, we deserve the respect, we command it and we have earned it.”
English (US) ·