The body of Ankie Timmers (37) from Eindhoven is regularly full of bruises. No, she didn’t enter the boxing ring with the best kickboxer in the world, but she is the best European powerlifter and world bench press champion. The sportswear she wears for this purpose is far from comfortable. “Especially in the beginning I wondered what I was doing. Everything pinched and cut, it really hurt.”
Powerlifting consists of bench press, squat and deadlift. Ankie does ‘equipped powerlifting’, where you wear strengthening clothing and knee bandages, among other things. “These are aids that allow you to lift heavier weights. For example, they provide more stability and the correct posture.”
“My mother was shocked by all the stretch marks.”
She has different suits for the different parts, all of which are very tight. “The first time my mother saw my body after powerlifting, she was shocked by all the stretch marks. But when she saw that I was having fun with the sport, that feeling quickly disappeared. It can be tough during competitions, but I always think it will be over soon. A match lasts a total of three hours.”
The grabs allow you to hang more weight on the bar, but it is more difficult than without support. “The disadvantage is that with such a suit you have few options for correction. Your technique has to be perfect, otherwise you won’t get it done. In classic powerlifting where you wear a singlet, it is easier to correct a mistake.”
She is used to the pain of the packs and enjoys suffering. Yet the sport is not without danger. “For example, when doing the bench press, it is important to adjust the safety rack properly. There are a few spotters with you to help with the bar if necessary, but with those heavy weights they may be just too late. It will not be the first time that someone has had weights placed on their head or neck.”
“I came in among all the tough men.”
Powerlifting came across Ankie’s path by chance. In her youth she was talented in shot put and throwing. “However, due to an injury I was out for quite some time and I turned to strength sports. In 2008 I started bench pressing and quickly broke the Dutch record. A year later I chose powerlifting. In 2010 I reached the limit for the European and World Championships. It was a different world, because I entered among all the tough but friendly men.”
Powerlifting plays an important role in Ankie’s life. She works in healthcare in the Netherlands, but she lives most of the time in Luxembourg. “I have a good coach there and I train six times a week. I’m 37 now, but I still see progress. For women, it takes years to build strength. A huge time investment, but I want to get the most out of it.”
“Even as a child I wanted to be the best at something.”
From 195 kilos of bench press, 237.5 kilos of squats to 232.5 kilos on the deadlift. Ankie has impressive personal records and has won all kinds of prizes at home and abroad. She is European powerlifting champion and bench press world champion. “The powerlifting world title is my biggest goal, I will fight for that in the coming years. As a child I always wanted to be the best at something and now I am so close. That injury in athletics had to be like this.”