Botha keeps raising the bar
EAST London’s very own dead lift world recordholder in her weight division, Toinee Botha, has started with her preparations for the Powerlifting World Championships to be staged in Hungary in September.
After winning the world champs in September last year, Botha automatically qualified for the RPC SA National Championships that were held in Durban on June 22. The Department of Economic Development Information Systems assistant director who started the sport by default while trying to lose weight two years ago, said she planned to defend her title.
“The goal for the SA Championships was to defend my title and to break the world records I set at Nationals last year.
“And I successfully defended my title in the 56kg category M1 Division and broke the squat world record by 17.5kgs,” said Botha.
She also broke her own dead lift world record from last year on her opener by 15kgs – and proceeded to break the record three more times.
“I ended on a dead lift of 165kg at a body weight of 55kg and that was the biggest surprise, that I was being awarded best female masters lifter.
“I also qualified for the World Champs in Hungary this year,” she said.
Botha has had a tough year preparing herself and also competing at the same time.
“It’s a brutal sport and it can be very tough physically and mentally. I have a coach who manages my training and nutrition and also helps me deal with the mental aspect of the game.
“We have been working together since 2016.’’ She said her goal was to break the stereotype of the sport that female powerlifters can’t be girly and feminine.
“It’s a myth that women lifting heavy weights will become big and bulky like our male counterparts.
“I want to encourage women to participate in the sport because there’s no better feeling than being strong and this sport helps you gain strength mentally and physically.”
The power lady said she’s learned to be conservative with regards to the re-feed process post weigh-in.
“During the last competition I was close to passing out and on the brink of throwing up as I didn’t follow the re-feed protocol correctly. It hit me hard, causing me to become ill and weakening me.
“But after hitting my first attempt and breaking the record, I had to push through on pure adrenaline.
“I ended on a dead lift of 165kg at the body weight of 55kg but the biggest surprise for me was being awarded best female masters lifter of the competition.
“That was a triple body weight pull and a huge achievement for me. I’m very happy with my results thus far,” she said.
“I am continuing to learn and push myself because there’s no limit to what the human body can achieve.
“With the right mindset, support and dedication, possibilities are endless. I am blessed to have the very best people by my side who do just that.”
Botha has only been competing for 14 months and here are her titles:
● Current world champion;
● SA national champion;
● Dead lift world record-holder in the 52kg class;
● 3 x dead lift world record holder in the 56kg class; and
● Squat world record holder in the 56kg class.