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As a competitive powerlifter, Dr Darcie Kinnaird of Roseworthy Veterinary Hospital in South Australia is always trying to beat her personal best.
“To be honest, powerlifting is a pretty simple sport. Some people try to make it complicated but basically, it’s a competition to see who can lift the most weight. I train at a gym lifting weights four times a week and also do cardio workouts on top of that. In competition, the best I have deadlifted is 142.5 kilos, though I’ve lifted 155 in training.
“I graduated from Murdoch University in Perth in 2018. My first year out, I undertook an internship in anaesthesia and analgesia at the university. I also started going to the gym to keep fit. In 2022, I went to a powerlifting competition to watch my friend compete. Everyone was really supportive, the vibe was cool and it looked like a lot of fun. I really wanted to give it a go so I started working with a coach in early 2022. I took part in my first competition at the end of 2022 and have been competing ever since.
“In a powerlifting competition, there are three lifts: the squat, the bench and the deadlift. Once you’ve stated how much you’re going to lift, you can’t reduce that weight. You either lift it and add more weight or you fail. You get three attempts with each type of lift and your best three weights are combined for a total score. The total score decides who is the winner.
“Powerlifting is a growing sport that’s organised through a number of federations. The main one in Australia is the Australian Powerlifting Alliance. Even though I love the sport, I’m realistic about my aspirations. The world’s best powerlifters are far beyond my level. There’s a female Polish powerlifter, Agata Sitko, who is the best powerlifter in the world—male or female. She is squat lifting 270 kilos and deadlifting 262 kilos. I’m happy to train and break my personal best.
“During competitions, we’re all individuals competing against each other within our gender category and weight class. Despite this, everyone is intensely supportive. It’s wonderful to be part of the powerlifting community.
“Being a vet means making a lot of decisions, often under intense pressure. It’s nice to be able to go to the gym and simply lift weights. It definitely helps maintain my mental health.
“Powerlifting makes me feel strong and capable, while the fun aspect and camaraderie brightens my day. When I’m in competition and I’m on the platform and I break a personal record, that moment is fantastic. I clearly remember every time it’s happened. It’s a wonderful sport.”
