Local Powerlifter Launches Free Lifting Club for Women
Maja Andrysiak is challenging the stereotype that powerlifting is a sport only for men. The 20-year-old competitive athlete has launched the Gym Gals Lifting Club to make the sport more accessible and less intimidating for women across Brisbane.
Andrysiak, who recently deadlifted 205kg, created the group to break down the financial and social barriers that often keep women away from the gym floor.
Building a Community at Fortitude Barbell
The club meets twice a week at Fortitude Barbell in Bowen Hills. Members can attend a free session every Wednesday or pay $15 for a Sunday class.
Although the group has been running since June last year, attendance surged after a feature on the local social media account Brisbane Baddies. Andrysiak originally expected around six participants per session but has now seen up to 20 women turn up at once.
Kayla Lampe, a CrossFit regular from Toowoomba, joined her first session in March after seeing a social media post. She walked into the gym on a Wednesday afternoon not knowing anyone inside.
“I just wanted to give it a go and see other gym girls,” Lampe said. “I just want to be strong and fit.”
Safety and Technique at the Core
Andrysiak has been powerlifting for four years and coaching for three. She leads the group through a warm-up before explaining the three main lifts: squats, bench press, and deadlift.
Safety is a major focus for the coach, who fractured her back early in her career. She teaches participants how to spot each other and perform movements safely according to their individual skill levels.
“I teach everyone how to spot and how to do the movements safely and to the best of their ability with the skill set that they have,” Andrysiak said.
The classes use variations on a standard powerlifting program to help people feel confident. This ensures that when members move to a different gym, they know how to perform the exercises correctly.
Removing Financial Barriers
Andrysiak knows the financial burden of the sport firsthand. It cost her nearly $10,000 to stay afloat during a recent competition campaign.
She aims to create a large community where women can access equipment and support without that financial pressure. She noted that social media often creates an illusion that many women are already in the gym, when in reality, the numbers are much lower.
“There’s this inflated idea on social media that there are so many women in the gym, and women in powerlifting, but there’s really not,” Andrysiak said. “It’s just this illusion on social media.”
Preparing for Nationals
Andrysiak is currently preparing for the Nationals in mid-April. She is hoping to exceed her personal bests of a 195kg squat, a 95kg bench press, and her 205kg deadlift.
She describes Brisbane as a top location for the sport, noting over 20 gyms in the city that specialise in powerlifting. Despite the sport’s small size compared to Olympic events, she is encouraged by the high level of engagement.
For women hesitant to join, Andrysiak advises them to ignore the intimidating videos often seen online. She promises the community is friendly and that the experience is far less scary than it appears.
“If you don’t come for the gym, you come for the community, and that’s why you stay,” she said. “It’s a lot less scary than you think, and you just have to come once and then you’re sold.”
