Headteacher powers her way to top of the class with winning lift
When she’s not demonstrating her undeniable strengths in the classroom, East Lothian headteacher Lynda Banks is winning trophies for her other superpowers.
The 58-year-old Edinburgh resident, who is in charge at Cockenzie Primary School, has just been crowned Scottish Powerlifting Champion – and not for the first time.
Lynda took the title competing in the Masters 2 under 69kg category at the Scottish Masters Powerlifting Championships held in Paisley.
She had previously competed in the World Championships, held in Mongolia in October, placing sixth. She went on to set a new Scottish squat record in her category at the Winter Open in Lochgelly in December last year.
Lynda has been Great British Champion six times and is delighted to have reclaimed the Scottish title in what is a milestone year on her powerlifting journey.
She said: “I have been competing since 2014 and this was my ten year anniversary of powerlifting. The prep for this comp was difficult due to a number of factors and hadn’t really gone to plan. I was going to pull out of the competition as the build-up hadn’t been great. However, the morning of the competition I woke early and had ‘winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win’ in my head so went for it.
“I was off my best, but I did my best on the day, hitting nine from nine lifts and lifting more than I have done the whole of 2024.”
The headteacher’s positive mental attitude influences her approach to school leadership and she enjoys sharing her experiences with pupils in assembly.