Jennifer Thompson, 45, from the USA has just won the World title in Classic Powerlifting in the Open category (63 kg) - although she could have competed in the Masters class (over 40 years) as well. The Powerlifting legend is our Athlete of June 2018!
“I started lifting in 1999”, Thompson tells. Since then, she has broken the World Record 68 times in bench press and total combined! She currently holds 4 IPF Equipped Bench Press Titles, 2 IPF Classic Bench Press Titles, 4 IPF Classic Powerlifting Titles, 1 IPF Masters Bench Press and 1 IPF Masters Powerlifting title.
Thompson says her inspiration is to show that you don't have to look like a man, to lift like one. "It's not supposed to be easy, so GO BIG or stay home", she adds as her favourite powerlifting quote.
When it comes to Powerlifting, athletes often need to lose weight before competitions. Jennifer Thompson’s method is to keep her weight close to the competition weight at all times. “In order to maintain my strength in this weight class, I found it important to train close to that weight. You can find examples of athletes that drop 10-15 pounds the week before a competition, then take sauna, and finally compete in a very dehydrated state. However, not many of them can maintain the strength they had in their training cycle for the meet.”
Current world number one in her class, Thompson has two children, Tucker, 14, who lifted in the IPF Bench Press Classics last month and Broden, 12. “When I am not powerlifting I am water skiing on Lake Norman and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I also spend much of my time watching my boys play baseball. Tucker is a pitcher and Broden is a catcher.
Powerlifting takes up a bunch of our time, but I view it as a time to spend with my family and friends. It has also taken us to some remarkable places all around the world”,
Thompson says.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 15-25 July 2021. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in the Games.