About
Hello!
I’m Katie. I’ve been a competitive powerlifter now for almost a decade—including landing a couple of international titles, and a several-year stint as a referee.
I started coaching informally in 2020, formally in 2024. For me, the best part is being able to pass on what I’ve learned over the years: that is, what I wish I’d known when I first started out!
I also love seeing some of the (sometimes unexpected) personal growth and psychological changes—such as increased self-efficacy and interoception—that lifting weights often brings about.
Coaching Credentials
– Reactive Training Systems Coaching Mentorship. Founding Cohort, 2026, led by Mike Tuchscherer
– Level 2 British Powerlifting Coach
– BDFPA/WDFPF Referee, March 2024–August 2026. International from September 2025. Served as Technical Secretary during 2026.
– British Weight Lifting Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Strength Training
Photo by Dave McWilliams
Coaching Experience
I’ve coached complete beginners—recreational and competitive, in-person and online—through to (inter)national-level powerlifters.
I’ve also done some club coaching, as below:
– Swindon Barbell’s (British Powerlifting-affiliated club) satellite club at Bampton Weightlifting Club, guest coach (2024–5)
– University of Derby Powerlifting Club, head coach (2025)
– Unit Fitness Powerlifting Club, founder and head coach. I also co-ran the weekly Ladies’ Strength Club (2025)
Experience in Powerlifting
WDFPF World and European deadlift champion (2025).
10 years competing, National level and above from 2019–2026 (BDFPA/WDFPF).
Multiple national podiums (BDFPA).
Best lifts (so far—and if you haven’t looked me up on OpenPowerlifting yet!)
All raw, squat in (‘normal’/soft) sleeves:
122.5kg squat, 80kg bench (gym, comp best: 77.5kg), 175kg deadlift, all at ~66kg bodyweight.
I sometimes think about how much I still have yet to learn (‘the more you know, the more you realise you don’t know’) and would still characterise myself as an intermediate lifter. I’m looking forward to what the next few years in the sport will bring.
I’m planning to move to the IPF from 2027—excited for this next chapter in my lifting career.
Continuing Professional Development
I believe that coaching is a craft that we perhaps never truly master: there’s always room to expand our knowledge, update our beliefs, and refine our methods.
- Reactive Training Systems Training Lab Membership
- Advanced monitoring tools and resources for lifters
- Ongoing supervision from a network of some of the best coaches in the sport
- NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Improving Personal Exercise, Health & Nutrition
- TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Nutrition & Health (RQF)
- Gavin Bilton Log & Deadlift Seminar
- Open University – Supporting Female Performance in Sport & Fitness
- Open University – The Science of Nutrition & Healthy Eating
- UK Coaching – Duty to Care
- UK Anti-Doping
- Coach Clean
- Compete Clean+
- NSPCC – Child Protection in Sport & Physical Activity
- British Nutrition Foundation
- Keeping Well at Home
- A Matter of Fat
Education and Professional Background
I sometimes (perhaps erroneously!) call this the ‘non-lifting bit’, but it all factors into how I problem solve and approach both the physical and the psychological elements of lifting and coaching:
– PhD, women’s experiences of social anxiety (disorder); viva passed with no corrections (University of Birmingham)
– Master of Research, Sexuality and Gender Studies (University of Birmingham)
– BSc Physics, first class (81%, graduated top of cohort, University of Leicester).
I’ve spent over 6 years teaching/lecturing in higher education, as well as working as a Physics teacher and private tutor for GCSE students. The communication skills, mentoring, patience, and individualised approach I developed during this time have all influenced my coaching style.
I currently split my time between writing and researching (sociology of mental health, gender studies, psychology and, more recently, sport) and medico-legal writing.
My current and recent lifting-related or lifting-adjacent projects include:
– A ‘lifting memoir’ which uses life writing to explore the potential of lifting weights as a means for self-discovery, personal growth, and the questioning of conventional wisdom and assumed truths.
– Psychology Today blog, ‘Stage Fright’, on women and social anxiety. I’m sure that lifting will make a cameo here every so often, as I’ve recently been thinking a lot about social anxiety as it relates to performance anxiety in sports.
– An article for Springer Nature on strength sports and women’s mental health.
Outside of lifting (and writing about it, and coaching it!), I enjoy running (especially my weekly parkrun); gardening; meditation and yoga; reading and talking about books with my book club; walks in nature with my walking group; and spending time with my rescue cat, Popcorn.
