Picture: Becky Saunderson. Image No.044505
TO challenge the best in the sport requires strength, both of body and character and a Buckie woman has shown just that by storming to within a single point of victory against one of the legends of women’s powerlifting in her debut contest. Steffie Murray (31), who originally hails from Portgordon but now resides in Portessie, came within a solitary point of claiming victory in the Highland’s Strongest Woman contest recently against Mary Anderson, whose long and illustrious career in the sport is littered with championships and world records. Inverness beckoned for Steffie and a band of supporters including family, friends and Graeme and Helen Wright from Wright Fitness in Buckie, where she has trained for the last three years. A gruelling set of challenges awaited the personal trainer, including an axle press, keg toss and duck walk. For some of the events, Steffie had to adapt rapidly as the equipment was different from what she was used to. Steffie told the Advertiser: “I was confident in my abilities going into the competition but when I saw Mary Anderson in it I didn’t think I was going to get anywhere near first. “She’s a legend of world renown and has won most of the big titles. “To come within a point of winning is pretty overwhelming, just amazing. I had supporters from the gym and my family and friends there and it was a very emotional occasion.
“I’ve only been working towards the competitive side of the sport since November and I just love it, this is something I definitely want to take forward.” Steffie is a sporting role model but her path to Highland’s Strongest Woman glory is one which has seen her become an inspiration in a quite different light after turning the tide of her own life when it hit rock-bottom. Powerlifting, and the support she has received from Wright Fitness, has given her the strength to tackle a mental illness which can leave sufferers stigmatised, marginalised, misunderstood and even ridiculed – depression. Steffie said: “I was a very different person when I started lifting weights – I was very shy and had had a breakdown, which meant I had to leave work and hardly left the house, even to do shopping.
See full story in Banffshire Advertiser 30th July 2019