The three-time record-breaking powerlifter discusses how she discovered her talent in powerlifting by accident, the mental benefits of the sport and why she will probably still be competing at 70
Not everyone can say they realised they had a knack for a sport after unknowingly breaking a national record—unless you’re Farhanna Farid.
The Singaporean powerlifter was at the gym one day in 2017, working out with her boyfriend and his friends. When they decided to do a mock meet to see how heavy they each could lift, Farhanna joined them. When it came to the deadlifts, she started with 120kg. When that proved easy, she went on to lift 130kg and then 140kg. Surprised by this, her boyfriend looked up the national record for Farhanna’s weight group and saw that she had just deadlifted 15kg heavier than the existing record.
Wanting to see how far she could take this,…
