By Alan Beresford

Copyright grampianonline

A Moray athlete has come agonisingly close to being crowned the world’s Strongest Woman.

Buckie Strong Woman competitor Steffie Murray was hoping to add to her World Heavy Events Association (WHEA) Scottish and British Strongest Woman titles when she headed to York recently for the world championships.

She was to come with a hairbreadth’s of the global prize, losing out by just half a point to finish second.

Steffie, a persona; trainer, faced up against the best the world of Strong Woman had to offer over a total of seven gruelling events stretching over two days.

In the first event, the max log lift, she set a British record 80kg, followed by the deadlift, where she won a gold by lofting an impressive 220kg, a personal best which left her “enormously proud”.

The next event may have been called the farmer’s walk but it was certainly no walk in the park, competitors having to walk a set path while hefting a 90kg weight in each hand. She managed to walk 30m in 24 seconds.

Unfortunately the stone to shoulder event was to see shoulder and bicep pain take their toll, with Steffie unfortunately scoring a zero in the event.

Next up was the Conan’s Wheel, which is a big piece of strongman equipment where the athlete carries a heavy bar or frame which is attached to a central pivot point. The weight is fixed at the end of the bar, and the competitor holds the bar in front of their chest – usually in a bear-hug position – and walks in a circle around the pivot. The goal is to carry it as far as possible before dropping it, with Steffie clocking 29.5metres.

Steffie came out tops in the Dinnie Hold, her 52 second hold of weights in either hand enough to secure victory.

The medley rounded off the competition, which challenged hopefuls to first of all lift a 35kg weight one-handed above their head before a 100kg sandbag carry for 15m then into a 110kg sled drag for 15m. She was the only athlete to pick up the sandbag and walk with it for three metres.

Looking back on her performance, Steffie said: “Overall, I am proud of my performance.

“I won five out of seven events and won the deadlift and log lift world championships while setting a British log lift record of 80kg.

“I will admit in the moment when I realised I had missed out on first place by half a point I was gutted. But that feeling soon dissipated once I realised how much I had achieved and I honestly couldn’t of given any more, and unfortunately this time it was enough to secure first.

“The 80kg atlas stone to shoulder was the event that cost me the title of World’s Strongest Woman. There was only one competitor that got a single rep. It is incredibly hard to lift an atlas stone but we were not allowed any aids like tacky or a grip shirt to help us stick to the stone.

“On the world stage you can’t afford to zero an event as it will cost you a lot of points. Unfortunately, even though I won five out of seven events, getting zero points in this event cost me big time!”

Steffie said she was confident going into the competition, especially given her strong showing in the British Championships, although the Worlds proved a bit of a step up.

She continued: “This was my first first-day competition.

“I am used to one-day competitions so this posed a new challenge in itself. I had to be statically strong but also be fit enough to go again the next day!

“My training has been long and hard, but exceptionally fulfilling. I have pushed my body and mind beyond my limits in preparation for this competition and it’s knowing you’ve put the work in that gives you the confidence on the competition floor.”

Reflecting on what has been a wonder year for her, Steffie commented: “This has been my most successful year of competing and I am immensely proud of my performances.

“I started going to the gym in 2017 because I didn’t like myself very much.

“I have struggled with depression most of my life, and dropped out of sports in high school due to horrendous bullying. I lost a big part of myself when I stopped playing sports.

“Then during university in Aberdeen I was raped, which completely shattered me. Back then, I would of done anything not to be me, even to the point I didn’t want to live any more. When I found Strong Woman back in 2019 and realised I was capable and my body wasn’t broken but strong and powerful, I began to slowly repair the relationship with my body and mind.

“When I started competing, I had dreams of making it to the World’s Strongest Woman competition and I knew one day I would. I have survived the darkest times in my life, and this has given me the resilience and drive to succeed. One day, I will be crowned Worlds Strongest Woman.”

Steffie will soon be back on the competitive scene again when she travels to Doncaster on November 8 to represent Scotland in Ultimate Strongman UK Strongest Woman.

The following sponsors were thanked for their continued backing and support: Forsyths Ltd; ClockStudio; Garden House Trading; Temple Spa with Sharon; Lifestyle magazine; Lane’s Sports Massage; The Health Haven Buckie; Vallen Fitness Studio; Jemma and Alastair Henderson; Kelly Bremner

Steffie added: “I would also like to thank my family, friends and the Buckie community for your love and support.

“It means a great deal and I appreciate the messages of congratulations.

“I will bring the title home next year.”

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