Roughly four years ago, at the age of 34, Tamara Walcott began competitive powerlifting. Ever since, as one of the sport’s rising names, she’s more than made up for any perceived lost time. On April 7, 2022, ahead of the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro, Walcott shared some of her recent training progress when she locked out a 151.95-kilogram (335 pounds) bench press for two reps.
Check out the lift below via Walcott’s Instagram profile:
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Never Giving Up
Walcott’s journey to powerlifting success is notable because of the adversity she’s overcome. On top of crushing deadlifts and squats professionally, she’s a single mother with two kids, working a full-time job, and a business owner. Any person might have trouble juggling so much on their plate, but, thus far, it doesn’t appear to have been an issue for Walcott.
As a prominent powerlifter with a platform, Walcott knows she can’t let up. She appears to be more than happy to wear this honor with pride.
“Just like the video said, I ain’t never giving up,” Walcott wrote in the post’s caption. “Why? Because I do this for me. The bonus in the process is what I do inspires others! I’m humbled by that, but that can’t be our driving force. We have to be our driving force.”
Indeed, Walcott is not short on situations where she’s been a quality powerlifting role model. In eight career competitions, she has seven victories. In one of her more recent wins at the 2021 WRPF The Bucked Up Showdown, she pulled a current world deadlift of 288.5 kilograms (606 pounds).
Always make sure you take care of you first
Still, her success doesn’t mean she can always go full steam ahead. Walcott appears to understand that attaining powerlifting glory is a gradual process — which explains why she says she took a recent approximate week’s break from training. To Walcott, every small victory, at a good pace, holds merit in a long and fulfilling journey.
“I always listen to my body,” Walcott continued. “I’m back for now, and I’m coming with a vengeance. There is work to be done. There are records to break. So preparation and proactiveness are key! I’m a beast; therefore, maintenance routinely is essential.”
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The Queen of Deadlifts
Walcott doesn’t seem to show any desire to squander her current opportunity. In recent interviews, she hasn’t been shy in passionately discussing how her foray into powerlifting remade her self-image.
More importantly, while taking care of her personal life, Walcott says she now possesses revitalizing energy that she wants to transfer to others. Her March 2022 spot on Access Hollywood saw her dive into more detail on the past and this ongoing honorable mission for visibility:
“I’m at a crossroad, I can’t keep doing this, I have to live for my kids,” Walcott said of her mindset during her low point. “I have to be here for them. I have to change my life. So, I decided to go back to the gym and lose some weight.”
It’s the next step that might have changed not only Walcott’s life trajectory but perhaps the future of powerlifting. While working out one day, she saw a few athletes clanging weights and “throwing chalk around.” The rest was history.
“I asked about it, and they were like, ‘Oh yeah, they’re powerlifters, that’s what they’re doing,'” Walcott said. “And I was like, I want a piece of that.”
As for whether Walcott would endorse powerlifting to other women, her answer could not have been more resounding.
“I would recommend it [powerlifting] to more women, especially since I have a 15-year-old daughter,” Walcott said. “It translates to so many aspects of your life. It keeps you dedicated, motivated. You’re able to go in the gym and do things you thought you couldn’t do. Not only has it changed me physically, it’s changed me mentally. It’s made me mentally strong.”
As she continues to expand her reach, Walcott is hosting an upcoming open forum about tackling stereotypes on April 24, 2022, in New York City. Tickets for the event can be purchased on her website. Walcott’s next competition — the 2022 WRPF American Pro — will take place on July 29-30, 2022, in Manassas, VA.
Featured image: @plussize_fitqueen4.0. on Instagram
