Double world record powerlifter Bethany Parker, of Kings Langley, is the 33rd Blacktown Sportsperson of the Year.
The 16-year-old set three Australian records to qualify for the Asia/Oceania Powerlifting Championships in Uzbekistan, which were held in December.
In Uzbekistan, she broke 11 Asia/Oceania Records and set two new world records.
Powerlifting competitions have three disciplines — bench press, back squat and deadlift — which all add to make an overall score.
Competing in the under-18s 84 kilograms and under division, Parker won all the disciplines and set a world record for back squat.
Her squat of 165.5 kilograms was a world record for her age division, while she achieved a bench press of 95 kilograms and a deadlift of 182.5 kilograms to finish first overall.
Her overall score of 443 was also a world record.
While Parker is happy to have set a new benchmark, she knows records were made to be broken.
“Obviously, you’d like to keep it, but if someone else breaks it I’ve still got two years of under-18s,” she said.
“I’ll be aiming for all four world records at the world titles, which are in Texas later this year.”
What makes Parker’s achievements even more impressive, is she did not actually take up powerlifiting until early 2015.
She was previously a NSW Athletics (and Little Athletics) competitor and representative for the throw events of shot put, discus and javelin.
“Obviously, you’d like to keep the record but if someone else breaks it I’ve still got two years of under-18s.”
Parker is doing her HSC at Crestwood High School, with the world championships in Texas to be held just a week and a half before her trial exams.
Nevertheless, she is still intent on being there.
“School does get a bit more stressful during exam time, but I think the hardest thing is social life,” she said.
“I wake up, go to school for six hours, go home for about 30 minutes, come to the gym until 9pm and that’s four days a week, and the other day I’m working.”
Despite her busy schedule, Parker has had good support along the way, with her parents always happy to help her come up with the money to travel overseas, while she received financial assistance along the way from Blacktown Council.
Courtesy of: Blacktown Sun