I lost an arm, now I’m a weightlifting champ
BEC NAMED STRONGEST DISABLED WOMAN
BECCA Slater has come to terms with life-changing injuries to be crowned the world’s strongest disabled woman.
The 26-year-old lost her left forearm and damaged her ankle in a devastating car crash.
But the pharmacy technician refused to be defeated by the injuries that put paid to her love of playing music.
Instead, she found a new passion for sport and began training for disabled strongman competitions, making a name for herself within months.
Becca, who can lift an 85kg weight above her head – equivalent to a baby elephant – said: “Before my accident, I was quite sporty but never thought I would compete in these competitions.
“Last September, I won the Britain’s Strongest Disabled Woman title and then in November, I achieved the World’s Strongest Disabled Woman.
“I’ve set three records in total – I lifted the 50kg Atlas stone [a solid concrete ball] unaided, which broke the 40kg record I set a month earlier.
“I also lifted a 85kg Atlas stone with a strap, along with a 125kg deadlift.”
It was four years ago that her life changed. Becca, from Liverpool, said: “I hit black ice on the motorway when I was driving to Preston for a music competition when I played in a brass band.
“I lost control of the vehicle. I was left with a compound fracture in my ankle as well as damaging an artery in my arm.
“They couldn’t save it so I had to have it amputated the next day. I didn’t have a chance to take it in – it was all very overwhelming.
“After my accident, I was struggling to play music again so I was looking for something new to put my energy into.
“I got more into sports and I posted a weightlifting video online, which got the attention of a trainer. She told me about strongman competitions and I started training for them in July.
“By November of the same year, I had won the Britain’s Strongest Disabled Woman title.” Becca is keen to defend her titles but also wants to prove a point.
She said: “There’s not many onearmed women in the strengths field and I just want to showcase what can be done when you put your mind to it.
“If you want to try something, always go for it. Never let any disability get in the way of doing what you want.”