Plasmawr schoolgirl hoping to win gold to add to her European and British records
A TEENAGE powerlifter will seek global success when she competes in the world championships next week.
Tegan Eason, 14, from Fairwater flies to Trofa in Portugal on Saturday with the goal of emulating her European achievements on the world stage.
The Year 10 pupil currently holds British and European powerlifting records over two weight categories, within her age group of 13-15.
“I was 10 when I started going to the gym. It was just bits and bobs at the start, on holiday I’d go to the gym with my dad and just join in,” said Tegan.
She is trained by her dad, Andrew Eason, 54, a previous holder of three British records who has 30 years’ experience within powerlifting and bodybuilding.
Mr Eason said: “Tegan is more or less at the sweet spot now; she is going through the hormone stages and her strength is gaining naturally.
“She is recovering quickly because of her age and constantly coming up in strength. We are adding weight every week, all the time.”
Powerlifting consists of three lifts – bench press, squat and deadlift – where each competitor attempts to lift as much weight in each discipline to be added up in a final total score.
The journey to the world championships began in February 2020, when Tegan competed at the Salisbury qualifiers, just a week after her 13th birthday.
“She was the youngest competitor they had ever had,” said her dad.
Competing in the 13-15 age category, Tegan achieved a 62.5kg squat, 32.5kg bench and a 67.5kg deadlift. She weighed in at just 42kg to achieve the British record in the 44kg class.
In August this year, she broke the European record for the 48kg weight class, after performing an 82kg squat, 35kg bench and 85kg deadlift at the A/WPC European Championships in Manchester.
At the World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) Championships, next Tuesday, she will be one of 103 competitors from Team GB, but will be the sole representative in her age and weight.
Tegan’s success is down to hard work, the support of her mum and dad and the strict training regime she follows.
“I am up at 5:30 every morning to go to the gym before school and sometimes after,” said Tegan.
A regular week consists of arm work, back targeted exercises and multiple powerlifting workouts focusing on squat, bench and deadlifts.
“If it wasn’t for Covid I would have done all of this last year,” she said.
With her regular gym, Aspire Gym, on Sanatorium Road, closed during lockdown and the demand for weights far outstripping supply, dad Andrew took matters into his own hands.
“I had to make her weights last year as I couldn’t buy any because of Covid. I bought a block of steel and turned it down to 1kg, 2kg and 5kg,” said Andrew.
Mum, Michelle Eason, 46, recalls: “Sometimes Tegan would call me into the garage and tell me to shout at her to try and replicate the competition atmosphere.”
It has not all been plain sailing for the Eason family, who live on Pwllmelin Road. Most notably turning up on the wrong day of the European Championships.
“We went up there on the Tuesday, thinking she was competing on the Wednesday. I thought there are a lot of men here and it turned out we had got the wrong day,” said Michelle.
In the European Championships, weigh-ins are scheduled 24hrs before the event.
Tegan said, “The girls who I was meant to be competing with were already on the stage ready to go and I was still trying to weigh in.”
“The head judge came over and told us the only thing Tegan could do was compete tomorrow with the men, which she did the following day,” said Andrew.
“It was all fine though, because I am not competing against them, I am still in my own category,” Tegan said.
“In this sport, everyone eggs each other on, they really support you. It’s brilliant really, the atmosphere is fantastic,” said Michelle.
For more information on powerlifting and how to get involved go to British Powerlifting Union.
