Iron is in the Genes

Iron is in the Genes
Iron is in the Genes

Di Weick has literally gone from strength to strength and proving age is no barrier to success.

At 68-syears-old she’s been powerlifting for over eight years and recently competed in the Australian Powerlifting Tested Nationals in Brisbane. 

Di impressed everyone with a whopping 110.5 kg deadlift and breaking her own Masters National record. 

Canungra Law

She squatted 72.5kg and benched 45kg for a new master’s total record and personal best, and to top it off walked away with a gold medal in her weight class. 

Di even holds first place ranking in Australia for her age and weight class in both squat and deadlift and second in Australia for bench. 

It was Di’s daughter and fellow local, Carmen Wiseman and her husband Josh, who are both powerlifters and record holders themselves that encouraged Di to compete.

The strong grandma started training several times a week and quickly showed a talent and keen interest in the sport. 

She has now competed in over a dozen competitions from Brisbane to Tasmania and achieved a number of podium places and medals, as well as broken several Australian records; a feat many powerlifters more than half her age have been unable to achieve. 

Di travels over an hour to her trainer, Cale Rowston, in New South Wales to maintain her sessions as well as at the local gym under the watchful eye of Carmen who is also a certified personal trainer on the mountain. 

“I am beyond proud of my mum. She works so hard to improve not only herself and her lifts every session and every week, but she never complains about anything,” Carmen said.

“Whether it’s the 4am starts, niggling injuries or the rigour of intense programming. She just keeps going and gets on with it. I honestly think she is is an inspiration for me and other women of any age, strength or health to keep lifting regardless. 

“I love being able to train my mum and alongside her as well. She is the true definition of a fighter. Although she may think differently when we train together in the gym,” she laughed.

To cap off Di’s impressive record of achievements she also managed to beat cancer 15 years ago.