Powerlifting champion Elaine Jackson, 55, and her coach Alex James Jackson, 25, talk to Marie Staunton about shattering stereotypes and exploring potential
Elaine
Elaine is the strongest woman in her Masters category in Britain, winning the British Nationals last year. At the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships, she won silver, an extraordinary feat, as she only started competing four years ago. “These achievements are about more than medals,” she said. “I want to show women and girls that sport is for us at any age. Just because we don’t see ourselves represented doesn’t mean we don’t belong.” Growing up in Buckinghamshire, Elaine moved to London to study fashion. She has lived in Camberwell for 30 years, loving the area’s “diversity and energy”. She spent her early career working on costumes in theatres, sang lead vocals on dance chart hits and toured as a singer with Pavarotti and Friends, supporting soft rock star Zucchero. In 1999 she was diagnosed with cancer. Like too many black women, Elaine’s symptoms were first ignored, negligence which led to a compensation award. Her surgeon’s recommendation to include weight-bearing exercises for bone density, especially after entering menopause early due to treatment, set her on a course that would redefine her life. Initially, Elaine’s gym experience mirrored the stereotype many larger women face. She was directed toward cardio exercises for weight loss. Watching someone perform a deadlift, she thought, “That looks amazing; I want to do that.” The sense of strength and empowerment she felt lifting heavy weights was transformative. As Director of Office Management and Security at Hearst Networks, which owns TV channels, Elaine oversees cybersecurity and operations across many countries, but she prioritizes her training, dedicating five days a week to three-hour sessions. For her, powerlifting is a passion that grounds and energizes her. “The feeling of being strong gives me such an adrenaline rush. And powerlifting is a great community, everyone wants to help you.” Inspired by a seminar by US world record holder Kimberly Walford, Elaine started to compete. She loves it. “I get upon that platform, I am loud, l get the audience to cheer me on. It is my time.” Elaine has not only shattered stereotypes herself, she is on a mission to help others explore their potential, regardless of age. She shares training tips with juniors helping them improve their body image. She is a referee and a powerlifting commentator at the Arnolds, the competitions set up by the actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “Whether you’re young or starting later in life, there’s no ‘too late’ in powerlifting,” she said. “Find a coach, start small, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.”
Alex
To Alex, Elaine is “a golden ray of sunshine, bubbly, talkative and positive”. And dedicated. “She has a busy job, can be called on at short notice to take an eight-hour international flight, but still manages to rotate her life around her passion for powerlifting. After a 12-hour day, her first thoughts are, ‘What am I doing in the gym?’ Nowadays 40 per cent of powerlifters are women. They are changing the traditional, male-dominated, sport. More older people are joining. “As we age, lifting heavy weights improves bone density, muscle mass, and mobility. Powerlifters in their sixties and seventies want to remain active and independent, staying strong enough to pick up grandchildren without a struggle,” said Alex. He trains his step-mum. Doing squats with a 20kg weight helps her rheumatoid arthritis. Like many of the new generation, Alex started competing at university. As a big person he was encouraged to play rugby but loved powerlifting. “I got hooked on seeing immediate progress, the increase in weights on the bar you hold. Also, the gym gave me a mental reprieve from day-to-day life, a way to channel problems and overcome negative energy.” The sport has its origins in Ancient Greece. Plato – the name means broad shouldered – was known for his physique. “I like to think of him in Athens,” said Alex, “flexing his muscles while teaching the need to strive for physical perfection.” Weight-lifting – competing to raise barbells above the head – is an Olympic sport. Powerlifting with its three challenges: to lift weights lying on a bench, squat with a bar bell and lift it up to chest height, is not. The steroids scandals that have plagued weightlifting mean the International Olympics Committee is reluctant to include powerlifting. Not every country has a national powerlifting body. There is no sponsorship for the sport. Elaine spends between £1,000 (for an European competition) to £10,000 (for the Commonwealth championship in Sun City, South Africa) to compete. The next priority for Alex’s business, Deity Agency, is to secure sponsorship for athletes like Elaine. Meanwhile he is inspired by Elaine’s achievements. “Coaching Elaine reminds me to approach life with positivity and resilience.”
