FOR most women, becoming a mother means focusing on family and career, but for Susana Qionibaravi, it was the beginning of something new.
The 35-year-old from Nasau Koro in Lomaiviti is a mother of two and a newcomer to the sport of powerlifting.
She only took it up in January this year and has already broken the Fiji women’s national record after lifting 215kg at the East versus West Powerlifting competition yesterday, held at the Rabuka gym in Suva.
“I just started in January this year, and no turning back,” Qionibaravi said.
“I’m actually part of Boxfit HQ. We usually incorporate the lifts from here in our training.”
She was one of only four women among 32 lifters who took part in the event.
The 215kg lift was a big improvement from her previous 200kg, and it didn’t come easy.
“I came in just wanting to improve, obviously, on my last attempt of 200kg,” she said.
“But, you know, in this sport, every kilo, you feel it. So 215kg was a bit of a spike, jump from our last comp.”
Qionibaravi spent the past two months training hard for this event, despite travelling and managing her schedule.
“It’s really more a mind game. And you just have to believe in yourself throughout the whole thing,” she said.
“Before that lift, I just told myself, I can do it. I’ll do it. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
She hopes more Fijian women can be encouraged to give the sport a try.
“Women representation is very low in this sport. If anything, us women should be inspired by these powerful men that are here, there’s a lot of other strong Fijian women out there.”
Qionibaravi said lifting has helped her as a mother, especially with energy and reaction time.
“One turning point for me getting into strength training is obviously being a mum,” she said.
“Simple things like standing up and, you know, running after my kids, those things are important.”
Her next goal is the Oceania qualifier in September.
