Local lifter wins gold at provincials
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- Published on Friday, December 15, 2017
Submitted Photo
Rachel McClay competing at the Manitoba provincials in Brandon on Dec. 10.
Micah Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
Neepawa resident Rachel McClay recently claimed the gold medal in the 58kg weight class at a weightlifting event in Brandon Hosted by Crossfit Rocked, the Olympic style lifting event came to a close on Dec. 10. With three attempts for snatch and three attempts in clean and jerk, McClay successfully lifted four out of her six total attempts. The lifting season began early in the fall and lasts six months.
McClay has successfully qualified for the western finals this year. McClay says, “I started weightlifting about two years ago, beforehand I used to run three miles every day and could barely curl a five pound dumbbell. I was inspired by few ladies at the gym throwing a heavy barbell around thinking ‘Wow, this is awesome, they are so strong! I wanna do that!’ Before I knew it I started taking classes learning the proper movements, and then fell in love with throwing a barbell over my head, while some people thought I was crazy, I didn’t care, and then realizing what my body is capable of doing with lots of carbs and proper nutrition. Being a girl, I love inspiring women showing them that weights aren’t just for the boys! I think it’s very important to teach women and girls to embrace their bodies.”
She went on to say, “Iron teaches me the power of gaining weight for strength, and gives me another weight to care about - the weight we’re lifting. We’re taught to think of our bodies as decorative, an object to be looked at, but iron teaches me to think of our bodies as functional, our own active selves, not passive objects for another’s regard. Iron gives me confidence, from within through progressive training, and measurable achievements. In this world, we’re taught to be gentle and hide our strength, or even to cultivate charming physical weakness until we start to believe our bodies are weak. But iron teaches me how strong I can be.”
McClay started with crossfit classes, competing three times, once in Brandon, Winnipeg and once in Saskatoon. Her true passion is the weightlifting part of it, so that is what she focuses on now. McClay has competed in weightlifting competitions so far, placing third, second, and at the finals in Brandon she placed first. Rachel McClay will be going to the Western Canadian Weightlifting Championships in 2018. The location for this event will be announced early in the new year.
