The winning number was 490 pounds. That’s how much weight competitive powerlifter Nadia Moumine had to squat to win first place in their division at the 2023 Massachusetts State Championships.
Moumine bested that competition record just a few days ago with a 500-pound squat, they told Boston Public Radio on Monday.
Beyond their deadlift success, Moumine is dead-set on making the gym a more inclusive space for lifters across the gender spectrum, especially as the sport becomes more popular among women and nonbinary athletes.
“The thing that I'm the most proud of is having a place where people who might not necessarily have felt safe going into the gym, or like they belonged, or knew what was going on, to feel comfortable being themselves and getting into [powerlifting] without being judged,” Moumine said.
They said lifting weights can be a great way for someone to connect with their body.
“Knowing what your body is capable of is really empowering, I think, for people who sometimes feel disconnected from their bodies because they just have spent their whole life sort of not feeling like they fit in their skin,” they said.
Weightlifting has other benefits, too. Moumine recommended more older adults lift weights to counter osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as help prevent injuries. It's all about building strength, they said.
“You can powerlift and not make it go all the way to 500 pounds,” Moumine laughed.
Beyond physical health, powerlifting can be an outlet for stress and anger.
“I put it all in the gym. That’s my catharsis,” Moumine said.
For those interested in the sport, they recommend starting slowly. No “ego lifting,” they said. Meaning, first learn the movements correctly before increasing the weight.
Moumine can be found on Instagram and TikTok under the handle @thatqueerpowerlifter.
