Rebecca Roberts (strongwoman)

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Rebecca Roberts (born 1994), is a Welsh strongwoman and grip athlete, current UK's Strongest Woman 2023 [1] and winner of the 2021 and 2023 World's Strongest Woman competition. She regained the title of 'World's Strongest Woman' after winning at the Official Strongman games in West Virginia December 2023, becoming one of only 4 women in history to become a multiple Worlds Strongest Woman champion.

Contents

Biography

Roberts grew up in North Wales, and is Welsh by birth. Growing up, she has "not been dealt the best cards in life", [2] after losing her mother at a young age and her father suffering from dementia shortly after, however she attended university in Liverpool where she studied forensic psychology and through university clubs she discovered rugby.

She was introduced to strength and grip sports by her partner Paul Savage, who remained her coach until his sudden passing in December 2022. Rebecca continues to compete in his honour. She is an advocate for body positivity and mental health, partially due to her own experience of bullying due to her weight and size. [3] Roberts works full time but still trains roughly 20 hours a week [4] to be able to compete at an international level. She is very active on social media, posting about her training, competitions and her weight loss journey, as well as the challenges of training while grieving.

Career

Roberts' strongwoman career began with her first competition in 2016. Standing at 6 ft 3 in, [5] she has competed in numerous strongwoman competitions since, as well as grip competitions. She also holds several world records.

Competitions
YearCompetitionLocationResultWeight Class
2024Arnold UKBimingham7thOpen
2024 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Columbus, Ohio 6thOpen
2023World's Strongest WomanCharleston, West Virginia1stOpen
2023Spartan Grip ChampionshipsSpartan Training Centre1stOpen
2023Britains Strongest WomanDoncaster Dome1stOpen
2023European ChampionshipsExcel London2ndOpen
2023Wales' Strongest WomanInternational Sports Stadium, Cardiff1stOpen
2023UK's Strongest WomanMotorpoint Arena, Nottingham1stOpen
2023Wales' Strongest WomanSpartan Training Centre,Wrexham1stOpen
2023 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Columbus, Ohio 2ndOpen
2022Worlds Strongest NationLiverpool M&S Arena1stOpen
2022 World's Strongest Woman Daytona Beach, Florida 8thOpen
2022Wales' Strongest WomanInternational Sports Stadium ,Cardiff1stOpen
2022Wales' Strongest WomanPB Performance Gym,Cardiff1stOpen
2022UK's Strongest WomanDoncaster Dome, Doncaster1stOpen
2021 World's Strongest Woman Daytona Beach, Florida 1stOpen
2021UK's Strongest Woman Bangor, County Down 2ndOpen
2021Britain's Strongest Woman Doncaster 2ndOpen
2021Wales' Strongest Woman Swansea 1stOpen
2019 World's Strongest Woman Daytona Beach, Florida 7thOpen
2019Bodypower Strongwoman NEC Birmingham 1stOpen
2019Europe's Strongest Woman Rotherham 1stOpen
2019Britain's Strongest Woman Derbyshire 6thOpen
2019British Grip ChampionshipsStafford1stOpen
2019Wales' Strongest Woman Caernarfon 1stOpen
2018Arnold's Europe Barcelona 10thOpen
2018Europe's Strongest Woman Belfast 2ndOpen
2018WHEA World Grip Championship Finland 1stOpen
2018WHEA World Championships [6] Finland 1stOpen
2017WHEA World Grip Championship Finland 1stOpen
2017WHEA World Championships [7] Finland 1stOpen
2017BNSF Britain's Strongest Woman Newcastle 1stOpen
2017European Grip Championships Norway 1stOpen
2016UK's Strongest Woman Kent 1stOpen
World Records
YearRecordSportFederationPerformanceRecord still held?
2023 Conan's Wheel of Pain Strongwoman Arnold Classic 92 ft 9 inYes
2022Thor's Hammer [8] Strongwoman Rogue 39 secondsNo
2018Handshake Lift (one hand) [9] GripDavid Horne World of Grip84.68 kgYes
2018Axle Deadlift (20" from the floor) double overhand thumbless grip [10] GripDavid Horne World of Grip137.05 kgYes
201876mm Silarukov Rolling Handle (thumbless) hold (one hand) [11] GripDavid Horne World of Grip47.5 kgYes
2018 IronMind Little Big Horn [12] Grip IronMind 70.96 kgNo
2018Log Lift Max [13] StrongwomanWHEA90 kgNo
2018Deadlift Max [14] StrongwomanWHEA227.5 kgNo
20172.5" Crusher [15] GripFBBC67 kgYes
20173" Trilobite [16] GripMammoth Grip Tools43.1 secondsYes
2017 IronMind Block [17] Grip IronMind 31.55 kgYes

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References

  1. ↑ "2023 UK's Strongest Woman & Man Results — Rebecca Roberts & Paul Smith Take Gold". Fitness Volt. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Warrington bodybuilder set for space on world stage". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "'Bigger is better': The weightlifter". BBC News. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Grimsditch, Lee (5 September 2021). "Woman sheds nine stone after first date changes her life". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Rebecca Roberts Lifts Big on the Little Big Horn". ironmind.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "Strongest man/woman champions - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Strongest man/woman champions - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Record Breakers - Leaderboard". www.roguefitness.com. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "World Records". www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "World Records". www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "World Records". www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Rebecca Roberts Lifts Big on the Little Big Horn". ironmind.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "Strongest man/woman records - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "Strongest man/woman records - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "VBARCERTS". www.fatbastardbarbellco.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "European Grip Championship 2017". The GripBoard. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "IronMind Block - Rules & World Records". ironmind.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.


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