02/09/2026
At the MARC, every person has a story, and together, these stories create a vibrant, connected community. On the first Wednesday of each month, we share a new story, highlighting the incredible people who make the MARC a great place to be. This month, we meet City of Mandurah employee and MARC member Laura.
"When people hear that I compete in powerlifting, they often assume I've always been sporty. The truth is, I was actually a very unsporty child and never really saw myself as someone who would be involved in competitive sport.
A few years ago, after moving to Perth, I felt like I needed something to work towards. I'd tried lots of different fitness activities, but I wanted something with more structure and purpose. That's when I discovered powerlifting.
I joined a gym with a dedicated powerlifting space and met an incredible group of women, many who were elite-level lifters. Watching them train was inspiring. What stood out to me most was the culture. Unlike many fitness environments that focus on how your body looks, powerlifting focuses on what your body can do. It's about challenging yourself to become stronger than you were yesterday.
I've now been powerlifting for around two years and have competed in several novice competitions before entering my first sanctioned competition last year. One of my proudest achievements was competing in the Australian Powerlifting League WA State Competition earlier this year, where I placed second in my class.
I train at the MARC four days a week, focusing on squat, bench press, deadlift and accessory work. My programs run over 12-week blocks, gradually building from higher repetitions to heavy singles that prepare me for the competition.
One of the things I love about powerlifting is perspective. At the MARC, I might be one of the stronger women in the gym. But when I step into a powerlifting competition, I'm surrounded by people who are stronger, more experienced and incredibly talented. It's a humbling reminder that there is always something to learn and someone to inspire you.
At the same time, it's nice to know I can inspire others too.
The support I've received from people at the MARC has been amazing. Many members know when I have a competition coming up and regularly ask how my training is going. Some have even tuned into live streams to watch me compete. Others have helped spot me during heavy lifts or offered encouragement. It's created a wonderful sense of community that means a lot to me.
I've even convinced a MARC staff member to give powerlifting a go and enter a novice competition next year!
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone thinking about trying something new, it would be this: Just give it a go. There will always be someone stronger, faster or more experienced than you, but that shouldn't stop you from trying. At a recent competition, a woman competing in her very first novice event at 76 years old came second in her division. That shows it's never too late to start.
You never know, you might surprise yourself with what you're capable of!"
