Camille Holland not only claimed the British title, but broke two national records at the GBPF Powerlifting Championships in Bournemouth.
The 27-year-old Cambridge lifter came out on top in the women’s over-84kg category, with her overall total of 465kg being a British record.
Her dead lift of 195kg also set a national standard, while her efforts in the squat and bench press of 180kg and 90kg respectively were not too shabby either.
Holland’s achievement was all the more notable as she did not take up the sport properly until joining the RP Fitness gym last year.
She said: “I’d tried lifting before but didn’t know what I was doing, but I’d heard of RP Fitness and they could see I had this natural strength and it pretty much went from there.
“Lifting has given me a level of confidence I never had before, even if it just makes you feel like you can look after yourself.
“I did my first competition last November and won it while breaking a couple of records, but I was really pleased to win the British Championships.
“I was quite hopeful I’d do well, but you just focus on yourself and wanting to do your best, so to win it and break two records was phenomenal.
“It took quite a while to come down from that.”
Holland praised coach Richard Patman, a former world bench press champion, for his help, but said it also helped training alongside other female lifters.
Among them are Abi Graham and Anastasia Zinchenko, who were second and sixth respectively in the under-63kg category, and Jenny Hunter, who came third in the masters section at under-52kg, despite having had hip surgery last year.
She said: “There’s such a great camaraderie. Gyms can often be very scary, but here everyone wants you to do well and you’re all working towards certain competitions and all want to get stronger.”
Having won the British title, Holland will now turn her attention to the European and world championships next year.
“It’s pretty scary because we’ll be up against the Russians and Bulgarians, but it would be nice to take one of the European or world records,” she said.
“I’m not too far off the dead lift one, so we’ll have to see.”