Balbriggan weightlifters set the bar at championships

TWO women from Balbriggan were able to cope with the weight on their shoulders, literally, last month on their way to claiming glory at the 2016 World Powerlifting Championships in Italy. 

Angela Holohan (42) and Jessica Corcoran (22) teamed up and trained together at Evolution Fitness in Balbriggan to blow away the competition in Riva del Garda, adding to the collection of world champions out of their gym. 

The competition sees weightlifters from all over the world at several weight divisions compete in deadlifting, squatting and bench-pressing, all combining to get an overall score. 

The co-owners of Evolution Fitness are Rebekah Penco and John Carroll, who are both world champions themselves. It was the former who saw the talent in the two women and trained them to reach the top of the world.

Angela, who works part-time for An Post and has three children – Ciara, Luke and Matthew – placed first in the 51kg Masters category. She broke her own deadlift world record, which she set at the National Championships in May.

In Italy, Angela lifted 147.5kg which is roughly 2.9 times her bodyweight. Her next goal is to lift three times her body weight at her next competition. She also scored 47.5kg on the bench and 90kg in the squat on the way to victory but it is the balance of her training, working and family life that might surprise most. 

How does she do it all?

“Well, I work part-time,” she said. “I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday in An Post. Tuesday and Thursday would be my big training days and I would do a Monday night and a Saturday. 

“We just manage it. You just have to make a little bit of time for yourself.”

Despite her busy life, Angela thrives on the support from her loved ones and says they are her inspiration. 

“For example, Ciara, my eldest, who is studying to be a teacher, said that I’m a great role model and that I’ve given her a little uplift for the future. That’s the main thing for me – the kids. They see what I’m doing at my age and and see anything is possible.” 

Jessica, a Leisure Management graduate from DIT, is also balancing a hectic life. Between shift work at a pharmaceutical company in Coolock to being part-time at Evolution Fitness, she still fits in four or five sessions a week.

Deadlifting her personal best in Italy at a weight of 125kg helped her on the road to winning the 63kg Junior category.

Jessica is an inspiration to many young girls who are keen to build true core strength and maintain a focused mental attitude. She explained how competitive weightlifting and her partnership with Angela came about. 

“I met Angela through the gym,” said Jessica. 

“When she took an interest in the powerlifting, she asked if I wanted to join too. 

“Last year around February we became training partners and ever since then we have been doing powerlifting training with Rebekah.”

The success in this gym is remarkable but Angela says there isn’t anything funky in the water in Balbriggan, just perfect coaching from Rebekah and a productive environment to achieve their goals.

“Rebekah’s texting you, she’s checking how you are doing, she knows when you are starting to tire or when you need to pull back or when you need to go full steam ahead,” she added. “Overall, the support we get from everyone in the gym is amazing.”

REPORT: Brein McGinn