Iron-pumping Kingswinford grandmother sets new world record

Grandmother-of-three and mother-of-four Lindsey Gowland had previously been a champion swimmer but switched to the high-intensity sport after her local pool was shut.

She took to a barbell like a duck to water and recently won three gold medals in her first British Championships, at which she recorded a world-best 121kg deadlift.

Lindsey, of Kingswood Road, Kingswinford, has been a competitive athlete all her life and while studying at college played basketball to a national level.

When this became too much for her knees she took up swimming aged 40 and trained with Brierley Hill Swimming Club.

But having won European gold and world silver at masters level she again swapped sports after Coseley baths closed in 2009.

Initially to maintain fitness, the 57-year-old sports lecturer teamed up with her colleague at Dudley College, Martin Beastall, who introduced her to dumbbells.

"As I progressed Martin suggested that I had a go at entering some competitions," she said.

"But had it not been for the pool closing I think swimming would still be my main sport.

"I never thought of myself as someone who would be able to lift heavy weights. It has really been so unexpected.

"I am reasonably tall but I am not a big person. I certainly don't look like the stereotypical weightlifter."

Competing in the 63kg weight class and 55-59 age grouping, Lindsey won gold in the deadlift, squat and bench press at the British championships held in Stafford in February.

In addition to her deadlift world record, her 60kg squat was a European best and 43kg bench press a new British record.

She has now set her sights on defeating her global competitors and will be entering the World Single Lift Championships in Telford in June.

Lindsey admits her success has surprised others as well as herself.

"When I first started training I was doing sessions at Dudley College, where the gym is mostly used by students," she explained.

"Lots of them used to look at me and think 'I bet you're not going to lift much' and I think they were quite surprised to see I could pull the weights I can pull.

"The sport is not usually associated with women but there are lots around and many who are very, very focused athletes."

Lindsey grew up in Lancashire before moving to the Black Country in 1976, where she met her husband, Ian.

All four of her children have caught the fitness bug and compete in various sports. Her only son, Ian, is captain of the Swedish national rugby union team.

She believes her involvement in sport will allow her to be active for longer and insists age should not be a barrier to success.

"When you look at others lifting big weights who are older than myself it shows that you do not have to get weaker with age," she said.

"Just because someone gets older it does not mean they can't do lots and lots of different things."