Inspiring Victory: SDS Student's Journey to Powerlifting Success, Breaking National Record!

When you see the word ‘powerlifting’, what picture comes to mind? For many of us, it’s a burly guy with well-cut muscles standing in the gym with a set of weights by his feet. However, right here at Sunway College (KL), there is a 19-year-old girl who’s shattering this stereotype.

Outwardly, she is just like any one of us, a student fighting assignment deadline and struggling to make it on time for 8 am classes. But while carrying this heavy load, she is also up on the podium, claiming medals as a powerlifter.

Here we dive into the story of Chow Lee Ann, a dedicated powerlifter making a name for herself in the world of strength sports while pursuing her Diploma in Mass Communication (DCOM) at Sunway Diploma Studies (SDS), Sunway College KL.

Lee Ann's journey into strength sports began in her school days, where she explored various sports before discovering her knack for activities like tug of war, shot put, and javelin throw. With the guidance of Zarol Alfiyan, Malaysia’s strongest man and powerlifter, Lee Ann embarked on a new path, ready to face the challenge with just 10 weeks of preparation.

Photo: Lee Ann claimed the Silver in the U63 Junior Category at the Strength Academy Classic (SAC) 2024 recently.

This year in the Strength Academy Classic 2024 competition organized by the Malaysian Association of Powerlifting featured two categories: Strength Academy Novice and Strength Academy Classic.

Facing these two options, Lee Ann opted for the Classic category, aiming high for the upcoming nationals. This meant that as a newbie, she would be up against well-seasoned competitors.

But this bold move proved to be the best decision, and her blood, sweat, and tears paid off.

Not only did it lead her to qualify for nationals, it also allowed her to break the national record for deadlifts at 133 kg and secure a silver medal in the overall U63 Junior Category recently.

Photo: Lee Ann lifting at SAC’ 24 competition

She shared the emotions she felt when she broke the national deadlift record. The competition was very aggressive at that point, especially in the aspect of weight choice.

“They are all far more experienced than me, so I was very, very scared,” she added.

Reflecting on her achievement, Lee Ann expressed the intensity of the competition and her initial fears as an inexperienced competitor. She credited her coaches, Zarol and Sean Wong, as well as her training partners, for their pivotal roles in her journey.

Beyond her athletic pursuits, Lee Ann balances her rigorous training schedule with her academic responsibilities. Lee Ann is not only a dedicated powerlifter but also a dedicated student and daughter.

She shared that she trains for at least 15 hours a week, adding that although it's time-consuming, she finds it therapeutic.

“It’s hard, but I’m trying,” she said.

When it comes to school, she manages the workload through simple discipline. One such example of this is completing her tutorials during classes, which frees up her evenings.

She finds solace in the discipline required for both endeavours. Despite the challenges, she remains motivated, emphasizing the importance of mental fortitude in overcoming setbacks and striving for success.

“I always compare myself to males. I have little to no female friends who compete, so I always see my weights as very minimal compared to them,” she added.

“You need to have a very strong mind,” she said, expressing how she's failed her own personal record many times during training.

“But you can't just give up, you have to be strong and motivated to try again,” she added.

Photo: Lee Ann and Sunway team recently competed in the SAC 2024.

Apart from Lee Ann, other Sunwayians also bagged medals and broke national records, such as Ryan Hoo Yung Yuan, Nidal Bencheikh Lehocine, Chong Junwill, Pierre-Alexandre Samy Pommier, Muhammad Haikal Hakim Zamri, and Kok Man Wai.

Sunwayians truly achieved remarkable heights at the SAC’ 24! Congratulations to all!