Joanne Connolly of Limerick Powerlifting Club made history by becoming the first Irish woman to win at the Mr Olympia Pro Invitational Powerlifting in Las Vegas.
The news comes as a great boost for the Limerick based Powerlifting club with Connolly taking 1st place and winning the overall at the prestigious competition. Her lifts saw her squat 220kg, bench 132.5kg and deadlift 200kg.
Despite the historic win Connolly says that it was difficult to celebrate her victory due to the toll that the preparation for the event had taken on her physically.
“You’re so overwhelmed and tired with the travelling and cutting weight that it doesn’t really sink in.”
Connolly qualified for the competition last year following successes both at home and at the WPC World Championships in Russia.
The powerlifter says that she thought that she was going to be in with a chance of winning the competition but didn’t yet know who she’d be competing against.
“I knew my numbers that I was lifting were fairly solid but it’s hard to know who you’re up against. You’re competing against ten or twelve girls ranging from 55 kilos bodyweight all the way up to super heavyweight. It’s hard to know because what you lift is calculated against your bodyweight but I knew that I’d have somewhat of a decent chance if my preparation went well, which it did.”
Connolly’s focus now switches to the National Championships in March before she takes part in the WPC European Championships at home in Ireland.
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