Shaping new standards of strength and resilience

World champion powerlifter Farhanna Farid is breaking both records and barriers, creating spaces where women from all walks of life can realise their potential

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Picture a petite teacher, a mother of five and a nurse taking on deadlifts with determination – it is a scene few would expect. In the male-dominated sport known for sheer strength and endurance, these women find their power under the guidance of professional powerlifter Farhanna Farid, who is not only training them to deadlift but also changing perceptions about who belongs in the sport.

“When I first started out as a coach, there weren’t many female powerlifting coaches in the scene,” the 32-year-old world champion recalls. “At the gym, my advice would often be disregarded. It would take a guy to agree before my opinion was considered.”

Farhanna adds that even some of her female clients were hesitant about her coaching abilities. Yet, with time, they have come to see that she brings something unique to the coach-athlete dynamic: an understanding of their personal and physical challenges.

“They took a chance on me and realised that because I was able to empathise, they were more comfortable telling me certain things,” she says.