Gladstone born-and-bred Katelyn Machen works on her uncle’s mango farm in a packing shed in Benaraby, is passionate in sky diving and is an adrenalin junkie.
While checking the quality of mangoes is just a temporary thing, Machen is looking to work in a bank next year.
She is also banking on a prospective professional coach to help her with her main passion – weightlifting.
“I was doing CrossFit, but decided I was going to teach myself how to do power lifting,” Machen, 22, said of what started her unique interest in the sport.
“I was observing other people how they were doing power lifting and there was a lot of trial and error and I guess, knowing my limitations.”
In order to help develop further, and to establish herself in a competitive environment, Machen is looking to hone her already impressive skills.
“There is a lot of power lifting comps here and Rockhampton is the closest for competitions to qualify for the national championships,” Machen said.
She is also a mother to two-and-a-half-year-old boy Charlie, who she takes to crèche regularly while she works out.
“I train six days a week and for about 90 minutes each session and each session varies,” Machen added.
Her favourite is the deadlifts and is something that may be where she would like to take a potential weightlifting career further.
“Doing the squats is probably my weakest lift and am not overly confident while in the bench-press, then probably if I train more, I’ll be able to lift more,” Machen explained.
In the meantime, she welcomes a coach who is committed to her cause.
“I’ve got to find someone who wants to push me and not go soft on me,” she said.
KATELYN’S PROFILE
AGE: 22
HOBBIES: Anything outside, I’m an adrenaline junkie
WORK: At the moment working at my uncle’s mango farm
NEXT AIM: To work in a bank and study Bachelor of accounting
MAIN AIM: Get a coach!
Courtesy of: Gladstone Observer