By Jessica Martin

Copyright expressandstar

A West Midlands gran has broken four powerlifting world records just 18 months after taking up the sport “by accident”.

Martine Barons became a four-time champion at the age of 65 after lifting for Great Britain at the World and European Championships.

The 5ft 6in mum of three, who has four grandchildren, started lifting weights for fun back in December 2023 but soon realised she had a natural gift.

Martine has since been training five times a week for two hours a day – all while working full-time as an academic researcher at Warwick University.

She first won the European Championships in Finland last June before successfully defending her title again this June in Poland.

And 12 weeks later, she continued her winning streak at the World Powerlifting championship in Idaho, USA – smashing four records along the way.

She added 10kg to the squat world record to lift 100kg (15 stone) and 7.5kg to the deadlift world record by lifting 155kg (24 stone).

Martine also bench pressed 57.5kg (9 stone) and added 12.5 kg to the powerlifting total world record by lifting 312.5kg (49 stone).

She previously won the 2024 World Championships in Limerick, Ireland, meaning she’s already won four major titles in her division since taking up the sport.

Martine, of Stratford-upon-Avon, said: “I never thought in the space of 18 months I could have achieved this.

“I was surprised to find a talent for powerlifting at the age of 63 after being poor at sports all my life.

“This has been an expensive year, as this amateur sport is self-funded.

“But I get enormous pleasure from training and competing and the health benefits of increased strength and mobility are astonishing.

“It does make me happy and quite emotional to think about what I have managed to achieve.

“I have to pinch myself sometimes as I can’t believe it’s me. I’m still in shock as it all started by chance really.”

Martine’s latest success has seen her become 2025 world champion in powerlifting, deadlift and bench press in the Masters 5, Raw, U90kg division.

But it all started from a fun gym session with a work colleague which revealed her talent before she entered her first contest last April.

Martine, who is married to Chris, said: “I took up powerlifting by complete accident.

“I went to a gym with a friend of mine who is a PT instructor and she showed me how to deadlift.

“She was impressed that I could pick up 60kg. Then I picked up 100kg a few weeks later.

“It must be good genetics. I’m unusually strong for my age and gender.

“I didn’t know my numbers were good at the time.

“I’m a person who needs a goal so when she said ‘you should compete’, it was all hands on deck. I’ve found I’m good at something, why not?

“To be good at a sport for the first time is kind of nice.

“I’m proud to represent my country, it’s not something I thought I’d ever do.”

Her next big competition is the British Single Lifts Championship at the Arnold Sports Festival at Birmingham’s NEC in March.