Powerlifting Athletes - Yorkshire Squad
Katie Whitaker, her boyfriend Martin Sands, and Simon Waggett are the three Yorkshire powerlifters chosen for the Special Olympics world games squad to compete in Shanghai.
The three train every Sunday at Arnley prison gym where they have the full support of not only their coaches but also the inmates. They have always taken a great interest in the group and some are very involved in helping to coach the powerlifters. There is huge support there for the squad members going for gold in Shanghai.
Coach, Kelly says: “The regulars know the SO lifters very well, where each individual needs to be pushed and encouraged.”
“I’ve seen such a lot of effort towards the world games in China. The competition spurs them on to really push themselves to the limit, and each other. They all know it’s about what’s in your head, thinking “I can lift it”, as well as physical strength. And they’re very close as a team.”
“They know they’ll be competing against the best from every country. In competitions here they know most of the lifters in their category, but Shanghai is a big unknown. So they know they’ll have to aim to lift more. I’ve seen them push up the weights they can do in the deadlift, squat, bench press. And they’re working hard at building up the strength in their arms and legs, and cardio fitness.”
“In competition, all I have to do is to let them know what they have to do. And they respond. They go out there and give it everything. There will be lots more competition at the world games but that won’t bother them. They have discipline, concentration and focus. And they’re good at staying motivated.”
www.bradforddisabilitysports.co.uk
Powerlifting Athlete - Katie Whitaker
Location: Keighley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Coach: Kelly Moore
Katie is 28 years old. She has been involved in sport since the age of 13 and started out as a swimmer. Five years ago she switched to powerlifting and the sport has become a big part of her life. She takes part in at least four regular competitions every year across Britain. Katie’s learning difficulties mean she has problems with reading and writing skills, but sport has always been one of her great strengths. When she’s lifting in a competition her mum says she gives her whole heart to it.
Katie says: “I like going for the heavy weights and I like training really hard.”
The three powerlifters selected for Shanghai – Katie Whitaker, Martin Sands and Simon Waggett – are also training together in a separate session with Kelly.
She says: “Katie takes her sport very seriously. She knows the rules inside out and has a professional dedication to training. She puts it first.”
Katie’s deadlift currently stands at 100 kilos, with 60kg for the bench and 50kg in the squat. She is very dedicated to her sport, training 3 times a week at the gym. As she only trains in her sport once a week, her individual training is crucial to her competition achievement, and she has been even more dedicated to this since her selection for Shanghai. She has been working hard at getting her weight down so she stays within the limit for her competition class. Fitness First gym has given her free access to their cardio exercise facilities and staff there are encouraging her all the way in her bid for gold. They are also giving her free personal training.
Katie says: “At the gym I work out hard. I use the walking machine and the bike. Sometimes I go with my boyfriend Martin, but when he can’t go I always make myself go.”
To stay within her body weight category Katie has had to keep her weight down and has shown huge self-discipline. She has increased her exercise, doing more cardio and weights training in the gym, she has cut out drinking and stuck to a healthy diet. As a result she’s dropped a dress size and is in good shape for Shanghai.
Katie’s boyfriend Martin Sands is also in the SOGB powerlifting squad for the World Games. The two met through the ‘Mind the Gap’ theatre company, where Katie acts and Martin is involved with technical production. It was Katie who introduced Martin to powerlifting.
Katie says: “I really love him a lot. He treats me nice and we go out for meals. He’s good and kind. We watch each other lifting and tell each other you can do it. When we fly to Shanghai I’m worried my ears will pop, but I’ll be sitting on the plane with Martin and he’ll help me.”
For Katie, Shanghai is a rare chance to take part in a second Special Olympics world games, her first being in Carolina, USA where she met and talked with one of her heroes Arnold Schwarzeneger. Her mum says Katie has always responded to competition and to the crowd. She and husband Clifford will be travelling to Shanghai to support Katie. They will, she says, as always feel very proud but wracked with nerves for Katie. Katie’s mum often has to cover her eyes because the tension of watching Katie lift is unbearable. Katie is very hard on herself, and can feel angry and frustrated if she doesn’t lift as well as she hoped. But it makes her even more determined and disciplined about training for the next competition.
Katie says: “In competitions I’m always shaking. I worry that my hands will be slippy. My coaches really help me, and my team, so I’m not so nervous. I just think I can do it, just have to have confidence, think about lifting straight and not hurting myself. But when I win a medal it feels good. I’m really looking forward to Shanghai.”
Coach, Kelly says: “She doesn’t come across as particularly competitive but she’s always spurred on in competitions by her fellow lifters and the crowd.”
Katie went to a Special School. She now works on a Tuesday afternoon looking after the tables at a local branch of MacDonalds. At home she gives a lot of help and support to her mum and dad who foster children – the family currently ranges from 18 months to 4 years old. She likes music and favourite TV programmes include Big Brother, Bad Girls and The Bill.
Along with most of the Bradford SO group, Katie is very involved in fundraising. She was one of a number of powerlifters who lifted the Lord Mayor for a publicity stunt covered by the local press.
*** There are only two or three powerlifters in Katie’s body weight category and fewer girls in the sport. This means at the world games there will be much greater competition than Katie has experienced. … esp Katie less girls…. Katie more exp of hugeness of comp. bigger audience…. Katie sense of humour…
TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ATHLETES OR COACHES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SOGB NATIONAL OFFICE.
TELEPHONE: 020 7696 5569 OR EMAIL TO: pr@sogb.org.uk