Viva Brighton Issue #76 June 2019

FEATURE
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Poppy Joshi
I can now out-lift most
of the men I know
Poppy Joshi, combines studying Physics and
Astronomy at the University of Sussex with
competing at an international level in powerlifting.
This year she will be defending a new world
record that she set last year.
I am the sort of person who wants to push
themselves. I started powerlifting competitively
in 2017. I’d seen all these big guys doing it, and
I thought, I’m strong, I could do that too. One
of the instructors in my gym told me about his
coach, Callum Barney, who’s now my coach. I
can now out-lift most of the men I know.
I competed last November in the junior section
of the World Powerlifting Championships
in Glasgow against countries such as Russia and
the USA and achieved 171.5 kg in the deadlift–
beating the world record by 0.5kg. I was expecting
it to be really hard, but the second I started
lifting I knew I had it in the bag. It flew!
I receive a sports scholarship from the university.
It helps pay for my competition transport,
accommodation and competition entry
fees. I get free physio too, which is great because
I also play hockey for Sussex and I get injured
a lot. The scholarship gives me some academic
flexibility, so if there’s a competition that clashes
with an exam, my exam can be moved.
I usually get up at 5.45am and am in the
gym as soon as it opens, and then I study for
the rest of the day. In the run-up to the world
championships I was also working out in the
evening too. My friends thought I was mad. I’ve
got a better balance now between my studies
and my sport.
I got involved with the Sussex This Girl Can
campaign because I want to help get more girls
involved in competitive sports. I hate seeing
them intimidated by the gym. There’s no reason
why anyone should feel like that.
I started off studying Neuroscience, but I
really wanted to do Physics. I didn’t think it
would be possible because I didn’t have Maths
A-level, but Sussex suggested I do the foundation
degree first. I had a rocky start, but by the
end of the year I was consistently getting above
80 per cent.
I’d love to become an astronaut, as I know
competitive sport isn’t something I’ll do forever.
When I finish my MPhys I’d like to study for
a PhD. I realise it’s a hard job to get into, especially
if you’re British. I really respect the UK
astronaut Tim Peake.
I don’t want to reach retirement and think,
I really wish I’d done that. For a while I had
dropped out of my A-levels. But my mum also
didn’t follow a traditional academic route, and
she said I should do what I want as education
will always be there. Taking time out was the
best thing that I have ever done because of what
I learned from it.
As told to Jacqui Bealing
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