Strong Okanagan females are taking over gyms and weightlifting clubs while encouraging others to do the same.

Women in 琉璃神社 are breaking down barriers and joining traditionally male-dominated sports with success.

鈥淥ur club is heavily female-dominated,鈥� said Kayla Shepard, a member of the 琉璃神社 Vikings Olympic Weightlifting club.

Mike Bencsik, a Viking member, said that often when men first join the club, they are 鈥渙ut lifted鈥� by women. Bencsik explained that Olympic lifting is a very technical sport and he has noticed that women are more patient with the learning process than men.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an ego thing,鈥� said Bencsik

Shepard said that the club is over 70 percent women and welcomes people of all ability levels.

Shepard started lifting in her early teens while competing in snowboard cross. Since then she slowly transitioned into lifting through cross-fit before focusing on Olympic lifting. Shepard recently came second in her weight class at the Canadian Championships

鈥淚t is cool to be a strong woman,鈥� she said.

The Vikings also welcome people who don鈥檛 have any previous experience as an athlete.

鈥淚 grew up doing zero sports,鈥� said Laurel Timmer, a lifter with the Vikings.

Shepard said that developing confidence in the weight room is very important, especially for young women.

Timmer said that coming into weightlifting, she realized that people don鈥檛 focus on the way their body looks and instead focus on building strength.

鈥淚t makes you feel confident because you feel strong,鈥� said Timmer.

Timmer said that initially she was nervous to start lifting but soon began to love the training.

Timmer and Shepard encourage everyone, regardless of their gender, to get out, move their body and try weightlifting if they are interested.

鈥淭he payoff is so worth it,鈥� said Timmer.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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