{"id":29019,"date":"2026-09-11T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=29019"},"modified":"2026-09-11T15:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:30:00","slug":"forres-woman-who-took-up-powerlifting-in-her-40s-now-trains-with-inverness-based-highland-powerlifting-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=29019","title":{"rendered":"Forres woman who took up powerlifting in her 40s now trains with Inverness based Highland Powerlifting Club"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\u201cAbsolutely not, that’s not for me\u201d was what Laura Park said two years ago when she was first asked if she would ever train to be a powerlifter.<\/p>\n

But two competitions, a gold medal and many personal bests later, she now “absolutely loves\u201d the sport.<\/p>\n

\"Laura\"Laura
Laura has since competed twice since she stared training. Picture: Submitted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Laura (46), from Forres, now trains with Highland Powerlifting Club<\/a> at Gym 300 in Inverness<\/a>, having been talked into the sport by her now coach, Lewis Michie.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cIt’s quite a funny story actually, I competed in kettlebell sports, and then I had to get a hernia repaired in December (2024), and Lewis was training up at Life and Soul (Forres gym)<\/a>, and he was like, \u2018oh. you should do powerlifting\u2019, and I was like, \u2018Oh absolutely not! That’s not for me!<\/p>\n

\u201cThen one day we were just chatting, and he says, \u2018look, I’ll train you\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI gave him an ultimatum – make me stronger, and I’ll train with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always thought powerlifting was for really strong people, I never thought it was for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laura has competed twice<\/a> since she started. Her first competition was Masters in 2025 and in February 2026 she competed in the Northern Open where she lifted 200kg in total.<\/p>\n

\"Laura's\"Laura's
Laura’s fist competition was Maters in 2025. Picture: Submitted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But her journey through the sport has not been without its bumps in the road.<\/p>\n

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Just two weeks before she was due to compete in Masters she had to be rushed to hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought it was a UTI, and I hadn’t trained for a week and then ended up having to be rushed through with an abscess, so I could have died,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She insists her gold in the competition a week later was down to her competition underperforming on the day but admitted winning at all was still \u201cphenomenal\u201d.<\/p>\n

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And when she took to the powerlifting platform again in February she described it as her best competition yet.<\/p>\n

\"'I\"'I
‘I think I just really enjoyed it’ Laura said. Picture: Submitted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She said: \u201cLewis was like, right, we’re going to go for these numbers (weights to lift) and I was like, let’s just try it – I wanted a 200kg total, but I was like I’ll just go for it and see what happens.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, each lift, I could have gone heavier. It just felt so easy, I wasn’t stressing though I was really nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite suffering a few training setbacks due to waiting for an operation, looking at how far she has already come is \u201cunbelievable\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"When\"When
When Laura first stated she could not squat at all now she is lifting 60kg and above. Picture: Submitted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI couldn’t squat, I couldn’t deadlift, and I think at a push I could do the 20kg bar on bench,\u201d she said of her beginnings.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I’m doing (squatting) like 60, 62kg and a half at comp, in February at Northern, so I got a PB (personal best).<\/p>\n

\u201cDeadlifts, I just got 100kg last month. Before it would have been like 60kg at a push with poor form. I’ve come on so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the Highland Powerlifting Club<\/a> she said: \u201cEverybody’s just so nice. Even though people are just doing their own training people always take time out. \u201d<\/p>\n

\"The\"The
The club train together on Saturdays at Gym 300 in Inverness. Picture: Olivia Andrews<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The club started in November 2025, but already has 50 members – making it one of the biggest powerlifting clubs in Scotland.<\/p>\n

Laura added: \u201cYou know people there, they can cheer you on, whereas if you’re training in a gym there\u2019s either nobody there or everybody’s got their headphones on, nobody pays attention to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The club is always looking for new members and is open to anyone of any age from beginners to seasoned competitors. The best way to contact the club is through its social media channels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here<\/b><\/a> to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.<\/i><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n