After more than two years of hard work, a local power lifter competed at her first meet last weekend and was rewarded for her efforts. 

Jacqui Broesky is an M-1 power lifter (masters 1 - age 40-49) who won gold in her weight category, and top masters female lifter of the meet which was held in Winnipeg. 

“The totals from this competition qualified me to go to provincials, but it was actually high enough to qualify me for nationals as well,” Broesky says. “However, being a new power lifter, I can't just go to nationals. I have to do provincials and then regionals, which is Western Canada, and then after that I can go to nationals.” 

Broesky says there were a lot of nerves going into her first competition, and says she loved the experience. 

“It's a really fun atmosphere and everyone is so supportive,” she says. “It doesn't feel like you're competing against other people. Everybody just cheers you on.” 

The competitors showed a lot of support for each other and Broesky appreciated the environment.

Jacqui Broesky performing at a power lifting competition.“Looking back through my journals, when I first started in 2019, I was lucky if I was bench pressing 70 or 80 pounds,” Broesky says. “And now, I'm bench pressing 200. So, you know it's just time. That's all it is, time and consistency.” (Photo submitted)

 This 47-year-old only started power lifting in 2019 and she believes you are never too old to start something new, especially when it comes to improving your health. Getting into the gym routine, Broesky says her motivation was to improve her future quality of life. 

"What drives me a lot of the time too, is I want to be able to get out of bed on my own, I want to be able to stand up off the toilet by myself, I want to be able to pick things up off the floor and not need something to pull myself up,” she explains. “There's a lot of motivation there, to just be able to be independent as I get older.” 

Another motivating factor is being able to be an active grandmother, Broesky adds. Playing with her grandchildren instead of watching them play, that is really important, she says. 

Broesky encourages people to get active in whatever way suits their life and abilities. She points out that her success comes from hard work and determination, and not from physical genetics. 

“Looking back through my journals, when I first started in 2019, I was lucky if I was bench pressing 70 or 80 pounds,” Broesky says. “And now, I'm bench pressing 200. So, you know it's just time. That's all it is, time and consistency.” 

Broesky trains out of Stone Brook Strength in Steinbach and is getting ready for her next competition. Provincials will take place in May, followed by regionals in August. Then she is off to nationals. 

With encouragement from her coach, Broesky also has her sights set on international competition.