By Adam Dutton
Britain’s strongest gran is bidding for gold just months after taking up powerlifting “by accident”.
Dr Martine Barons, 63, will lift for Great Britain at the European Championships in Finland this summer.
The 5ft 6ins mum-of-two, who has four grandchildren, started lifting weights for fun but soon realised she was naturally talented.
Martine now trains three times a week while working full-time as an academic researcher at Warwick University.
Her hard work is paying off and she can now deadlift a colossal 125kg (19.7st) and squat 80kg (12.6st).
Martine, who gained her PhD in statistics when she was aged 52, scooped gold at her first tournament just weeks after taking up powerlifting.
Martine, from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks., said: “I took up powerlifting by complete accident.
“I went to a gym with a friend of mine who is a PT instructor and she showed me how to deadlift.
“She was impressed that I could pick up 60kg. Then I picked up 100kg a few weeks later.
“I’ve been deadlifting for 16 weeks, six weeks for squats and eight for bench press.
“It must be good genetics. I’m unusually strong for my age and gender.
“I only joined the gym a year ago. I kind of fancied joining the gym but it’s scary and full of scary machines.
“I had left free weights to the boys and used the machines where I knew that would keep me safe.
“I didn’t know my numbers were good at the time.
“I was doing the calf press, leg press, and lateral pull downs. It was a lot of strength training. Nothing in particular.
“I enjoyed my time with my friend and to be told that I was good is always nice.
“The progress was coming quickly and that made it a pleasurable process.
“I’m a person who needs a goal so when she said you should compete, it was all hands on deck. I’ve found I’m good at something, why not.
“I’m not the kind of person who has never been good at sport.
“To be good at a sport for the first time is kind of nice.
“It’s been an absolute maze to find out about it. I’m thinking about writing an idiot’s guide to it.
“People assume when a woman joins a gym they take her to the cardio machines. When a man joins, it’s straight to the weights.
“I go three times a week.
“It’s often a shorter visit as we’re having to fit it in around work appointments.
“I keep it relatively low as I’m aware that menopausal women take longer to recover. It’s much slower in that phase of life.
“I enjoy it, I’ve been known to do three hours. I can’t get enough of it when I’m in the groove.”
Martine won gold at the Amateur British Powerlifting Union qualifier championships earlier this month.
She is now tipped to represent Great Britain in the European championships in Finland in June and the British Championships in Manchester in July.
Martine said: “My age category is for competitors aged 60 to 64.
“It is just remarkable, I was never any good at sport at school or in my early adult life.
“I’ve always struggled with coordination but something has just clicked with powerlifting.
“Nothing feels like success, it has kept me going. It feels like I’m walking in with no effort.
“It has been an emotional rollercoaster.
“It was a new experience as I’ve not been a competitor before.
“I’ve qualified for everything I can. I’ve got a reasonable chance of bringing home a British record.
“My heaviest deadlift is 125kg, while the record is 120kg.”
Martine’s family have shown her full support with her son’s taking their mum to the gym and spotting her for her training.
She added: “The two younger sons are gym bros but they don’t compete. They were very happy for me and reassuring for me.
“They said it was remarkable. They took me to their gym with them.
“The youngest one in particular helped me prepare by having a few extra sessions. He spotted for me.
“I’m an old fat grandma and no one expected me to do this.
“I don’t look like a powerlifter. I’m quite heavy and I do keep myself reasonably fit, but it is surprising.
“I think the importance is for women’s health. I don’t think powerlifting should be off the table.
“Two ladies at work have started coming to the gym with me and has started coming to the gym with me.
“I want to go home and bring back that British record. I’m proud to be represent my country, it’s not something I thought I’d ever do. It’s weird, it’s like a fairy tale.”
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