Growing up, I faced significant challenges with self-esteem and mental health. Throughout my teenage years I faced struggles with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. During my second year of high school, my mental state deteriorated to the point where I became bedridden.

While away from school, I spent most of my time alone, either training, binge-watching TV shows, or sleeping. Each day, I sought ways to escape my mind.

A few months into my sick leave, I stumbled upon a video about powerlifting. Until then, I had only engaged in recreational strength training. The idea of having a tangible goal to pursue really fascinated me, and lifting heavy barbells had always been the highlight of my workouts.

A few weeks later, I joined my local powerlifting club. Three months after that, I competed at my first powerlifting meet. Despite extreme nervousness and a lack of self-belief, I felt a compelling urge to commit and go through with it. After the competition, I realized that powerlifting was exactly what I had been desperately searching for. For the first time in a very long time, I felt a sense of purpose and achievement.

From that day on, I promised myself that I would do everything necessary to become the best. 

A lot has happened since I set that goal 6 years ago. Now I’m a world champion, world record holder, public speaker and a full time coach. Something that I never would’ve imagined myself to be this early in my carreer. 

Powerlifting has taught me to become disciplined, daring, a self believer and to never give up on myself. I’ve learned that there’s always a reason to keep fighting. Whether it’s for a world championship title, your first meet or to just keep going one more day. It’s all about becoming stronger than you were before. Both mentally and physically.