Kuala lumpur: The world of female powerlifters has often been clouded by misconceptions – from claims that lifting heavy weights will make women look ‘too muscular’ to warnings that it could harm their health. ‘Why do you want to look like a man?’ ‘Don’t lift heavy weights or your womb will drop!’ These were among the comments frequently heard by Amirah Nursaidah Amir Hamzah, 38, Nicole Lee Shu Wei, 25, and Dr. Izza Arsyika Abdul Rahim, 37, three Malaysian women who have found empowerment through powerlifting.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, both Amirah Nursaidah and Lee are competitive female powerlifters who have set records in a few national and regional powerlifting competitions, while Dr. Izza Arsyika, a medical specialist at a local hospital, became enthusiastic about weight training after a sports injury. Powerlifting is a strength sport focused on lifting the maximum possible weight in three specific exercises: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Despite their different backgrounds, the three women share a common goal – to challenge misconceptions about women’s participation in strength sports and promote the physical and mental benefits of lifting weights.
Amirah Nursaidah, a mother of two, faced health challenges before taking up powerlifting, including a slipped disc and a hernia. She struggled with obesity, weighing nearly 90 kilograms in her early 20s. She tried dieting and lost weight but gained it back due to a lack of proper eating and training knowledge. Her health issues motivated her to undergo bariatric surgery in 2019. Post-surgery, she worked with a personal trainer, dropping her weight to 47-48 kilograms and discovering her strength in lifting weights. This newfound passion led her to compete in her first powerlifting competition in 2021, where she won her first medal with impressive lifts.
Nicole Lee, who previously struggled with body dysmorphia, found empowerment in powerlifting. Her journey began at 19, following a background in dance where she faced pressure to maintain a certain weight. Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome due to poor eating habits, she turned to powerlifting to redefine her relationship with her body and food. In July, Lee broke the Asian record with a 151-kilogram squat in the under-52-kilogram category at the Asian Pacific African Powerlifting Championships 2025 in Japan, setting a new benchmark for female athletes.
Dr. Izza Arsyika’s journey into strength training began after a knee injury from basketball. The injury led her to focus on rehabilitation through strength training, which became her passion. Working in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of strength for healthcare professionals. Inspired by her progress, she now advocates strength training to her patients to maintain bone and joint health, asserting that lifting weights is about progressive training rather than heavy lifting.
Amirah Nursaidah, addressing claims about age limits in strength sports, highlighted that athletes like her continue to improve and grow stronger beyond the age of 30, challenging misconceptions and promoting the benefits of powerlifting for women.