Moate powerlifter wins bronze at world championships in Canada
Local powerlifter Caroline Cunniffe returned home last week after successfully competing at the IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Canada, where she claimed three medals including the overall bronze.
The 64-year-old Moate resident was lifting in the Masters' section at the event, which took place in Newfoundland from October 8 to 14.
Her achievement of winning bronze in the squat and deadlift, and bronze overall, underlines Caroline's status as one of the strongest women in the world in her age category.
This was her third world championships since she first took up powerlifting in 2016, and she said the high standard of competition on this occasion made it the most enjoyable one yet.
“The competition was very tough this year which made it very exciting. There were four of us vying for the overall bronze and, as the commentator was saying, any one of us could have taken it,” she said.
After the long journey to Newfoundland, which involved a connecting flight in Toronto, Caroline's events were held on the first day of the championships on October 8.
In the squat, just as in last year's worlds in Sweden, Caroline was tied with Norway's Ingeborg Gjone, meaning their positioning among the medals was then decided on body weight.
“I achieved bronze in squat, losing out on the silver on body weight. However, it was a new Irish record,” she said.
“The goal was to get on the platform, so we had to be very strategic with our numbers for the deadlift. I went for 125kg on my third lift, knowing it would give me the same total as a competitor from Great Britain.
“I was a lighter body weight than the British woman, so I played it safe and achieved the 125kg, which gave me bronze in the deadlift, and bronze overall. I was delighted to achieve three bronze medals on the world platform.”
The events were streamed online and Caroline had great encouragement from her supporters, including her daughter Audrey Hopkins, who is now based in New Jersey, and grandchildren Deegan and Raffi.
A teacher in the Ballymahon Youthreach Centre, she spoke about the amount of time and dedication it takes to be able to compete at this level, explaining that she had been following a 22-week training programme in the lead up to the event.
She planned to compete in the European championships in Lithuania earlier this year but the Irish team ultimately withdrew from the event due to the war in Ukraine.
Caroline typically trains at the ABS powerlifting club in Finglas on Sunday mornings, and she then trains a further three days a week in the Athlone Regional Sports Centre.
She thanked her coach at the ABS club, Deividas Barisas, and her nutritionist there, Anna Hourihane. In addition, she expressed gratitude to locals who provided her with sponsorship this year, which helped ease the financial burden of travelling to compete in Canada.