Women can power way forward now
Lucille, 50, gets triple success in Commonwealth
MORE women are taking up weights training as the benefits become better known, Lucille Rowan said.
The Commonwealth medal-winner said 14 were on the Northern Ireland powerlifting team and many were recent converts.
She added: “The day that I lifted 95 kilos, on the first day, I knew I liked it and I knew I would not ever be doing much more cardio after that, I got the bug that day and just have been lifting since.
“It empowers you.”
Conor Gelston who runs her gym in Annacloy, near Downpatrick, Co Down, added: “Years ago women were intimidated to go into a weights room because there was nothing but fellas.
“Now people are coaching in private studios there are a lot more.” Lucille Rowan A POWERLIFTING teacher from Northern Ireland has conquered the world just a year after first picking up a weight.
Lucille Rowan celebrated after winning three Commonwealth medals in South Africa earlier this year.
The 50-year-old teaches maths at St Malachy’s High School in rural Co Down and trains in a small, no-frills gym in an industrial estate.
She said: “I did not actually know I was strong until I came in here and the weights just went up and up.”
She took up the sport aged almost 49 after feeling she was losing a bit of her strength and wanting to get toned up.
She had practised yoga so knew she had good flexibility.
Lucille added: “The weights just went up and up until Conor [her coach] decided, seven weeks after I lifted my first weight in here in the powerlifting, I was in a competition – after seven sessions.”
In her first competition she broke her personal bests and the following February set Northern Ireland records.
By September this year Lucille was on the plane to South Africa, fuelled by adrenaline and pre-competition nerves.
Athletes of all weights and sizes from 11 countries took part in the week-long event.
Lucille said: “There were a lot of impressive lifters, inspirational
ON HER WEIGHTLIFTING SUCCESS
Lucille Rowan at St Malachy’s in Co Down
lifters.” She competed in the under 72kg class, winning two silver medals and a bronze and finishing third overall.
And was “ecstatic” when received them.
Lucille explained: “It has been one of the highlights of my life, in sporting terms the highlight, because I never would have been considered to be a sportsperson before and found it very strange people using the word athlete.
“It has sunk in but still I know I am on a journey, I am just a beginning athlete I would say.” And plenty of the girls she teaches are very curious about her sport.
Lucille added: “A few said they did not know girls went to the gym, they thought girls did not do weights.
“The boys certainly see me totally differently now.
“There is a bit of cool maths teacher, they have a bit more respect for the weights than sometimes they do for academics.” she
It has been one of the highlights of my life in sporting terms
LUCILLE ROWAN
Lucille