Nicky Solis, 64, from Bicknacre near South Woodham Ferrers, won the top prize at the Commonwealth Championships in Canada in September.
She feared she may have to give up the sport after becoming unwell during the summer, when she was told she needed a pacemaker to correct a very low heart rate.
Nicky said: “The doctors took the time to ask me about my life and what I enjoyed doing.
“They were able to offer me an option that meant I could carry on powerlifting, which was such a relief as I really thought I might have to give it up.
“Powerlifting is really important to me, both mentally and physically.
“It was amazing to win gold, especially after so many years of hard work and training.
“It meant so much more after thinking I’d never be able to do powerlifting again.
“To come back and get Commonwealth gold was a dream come true and one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Specialists at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) ruled out a standard pacemaker because of her active lifestyle.
Instead, they fitted a leadless pacemaker, which is 90 per cent smaller than a traditional device, has no wires and sits inside the heart.
Leadless pacemakers suit active patients like Nicky, for whom conventional devices are impractical.
They are also used in younger patients and people at greater risk of infection.
Dr Christine Menexi, a consultant cardiologist at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Nicky would not have been able to continue lifting with a traditional pacemaker, which sits under the skin near the collarbone, as the powerlifting bar would have been resting in the same place.
“The advantage of the leadless pacemaker is that it is implanted directly into the heart and attached to the wall of the heart.”
More than 100 leadless pacemakers have been fitted since the technology was introduced at the trust in 2023.
Nicky took up powerlifting after retiring from teaching four years ago.
She joined a gym to stay active, took up weight training and went on to compete in her age and weight category.
