Ōtaki’s Riria Ropata has won a powerlifting world championship after competing in Calgary, Canada, from October 3-6.

Riria, who is 29 and lifting only since 2016, won the women’s open 100kg+ class. Her three lifts – a squat of 212kg, a bench press of 103kg and a deadlift of 220kg, were enough to secure her the world title. Another Kāpiti woman, Alison FitzMorris, was second and an Irish competitor third.

Powerlifting focuses on completing three, controlled, heavy lifts (the squat, bench press and deadlift), none of which is directed overhead. Weightlifting, an Olympic sport, has two ballistic lifts, known as the clean and jerk, and the snatch.