The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Students take strain in chase for gold rewards
Powerlifting: Aberdeen athletes aim to build on fourth place
The University of Aberdeen women’s powerlifting team is preparing for next month’s University Powerlifting World Cup.
The team of captain Molly Tweedle, Eve Fordyce, Jennifer Newton, Nina Lepaus and Annina Jansson will travel to Potchefstroom in South Africa to compete in the event from July 10 to 15.
The Aberdeen team finished fourth in the inaugural event in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, last year when Boston’s Northeastern University claimed top spot.
University of Aberdeen qualified for the event by winning the Scottish championships at Motherwell in April, finishing ahead of second-placed Glasgow University with Robert Gordon University in third.
Fordyce is hopeful of another strong showing in South Africa after her team just missed out on a podium place 12 months ago. She said: “We are really looking forward to it. Four of the team were in Minsk last year so hopefully we can do even better this time.
“The atmosphere in Minsk was amazing and it was great to meet the other teams.
“It was a really different experience to compete internationally as opposed to the local competitions we were used to.
“There was a lot more preparation required but we know what to expect this time.”
Fordyce is looking forward to South Africa following a testing year since competing in Minsk. The 21-year-old medicine student said: “I broke my foot last year which curtailed my training.
“I also struggle with recurrent depression and I was out for a couple of months around Christmas time with that.
“Sometimes when it is a struggle to get out to the gym it is nice to see your hard work going somewhere.
“We train about four times a week for two to three hours at a time. “It is a fairly big commitment, but it is something we all enjoy. Hopefully the hard work will pay off in South Africa.”
“It was a really different experience to compete internationally”