It was one of those slow-mo movie moments when Karen Humphreys realised she had won gold at the world champs, leaping into her coach’s arms as she was carried off the stage in victory!

Heading from her home in Omanawa, Karen travelled all the way to Mongolia to compete in the International Powerlifting Federation’s World Classic & Equipped Masters Powerlifting Championships 2023, which ran from October 8-15.

She cleaned up against her international competitors, winning gold for a 117.5kg squat and a 145kg deadlift, and taking silver for a 60kg bench in her division. What’s more, Karen’s squat, deadlift and overall total broke a new Commonwealth record!

“Astonishing”

The 60-year-old says she got into powerlifting back in 2019 after her daughter suggested the sport to her.

“I was too old for boxing anymore and I don’t like doing things unless I can compete, so I jumped into a little local club, went into one of those typical 12 week challenges…and went from there!”

Did she think she’d end up being a world champ a few years later? “Absolutely no way…it’s astonishing really.”

It shouldn’t be a surprise however, as Karen trains hard out at the Ruthless Barbell Club in Tauranga City.

“My training sessions take up to three hours a session, and I’m doing it four days a week, that’s a lot of time away from family and home. It’s a lot of commitment if you want to be competitive.”

Karen’s diet also has to be very “controlled” to be a top competitor. “There’s a percentage of protein that you must eat, a percentage of carbs that you must eat then a percentage of low fats.”

Victory moment

With her powerlifting physique in check, Karen was the last lifter in her division at Mongolia’s world champs and knew if she succeeded with her last deadlift, she would be the victor.

“I knew that no one was going to be after me…so if I got that final lift – that it was mine.”

And of course she did! Throwing down her 145kg weight, Karen got her gold champ movie moment. 

“There was a ramp and my coach Mike Jones ran up the ramp clapping and I came off the stage quite quickly and I just leapt into his arms and then he carried me off the stage!

“It was really cool and singing the New Zealand national anthem standing on that podium…I got through two-quarters of it then the tears started. That’s when it really hit home…very special.”

It’s no rest for the wicked however. Karen says: “I will be targeting for worlds next year in South Africa”. Watch this space!