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.
Biography edit
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 edit
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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Competition | Location | Result | Weight Class |
| 2024 | Arnold UK | Bimingham | 7th | Open |
| 2024 | Arnold Strongwoman Classic | Columbus, Ohio | 6th | Open |
| 2023 | World's Strongest Woman | Charleston, West Virginia | 1st | Open |
| 2023 | Spartan Grip Championships | Spartan Training Centre | 1st | Open |
| 2023 | Britains Strongest Woman | Doncaster Dome | 1st | Open |
| 2023 | European Championships | Excel London | 2nd | Open |
| 2023 | Wales' Strongest Woman | International Sports Stadium, Cardiff | 1st | Open |
| 2023 | UK's Strongest Woman | Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham | 1st | Open |
| 2023 | Wales' Strongest Woman | Spartan Training Centre,Wrexham | 1st | Open |
| 2023 | Arnold Strongwoman Classic | Columbus, Ohio | 2nd | Open |
| 2022 | Worlds Strongest Nation | Liverpool M&S Arena | 1st | Open |
| 2022 | World's Strongest Woman | Daytona Beach, Florida | 8th | Open |
| 2022 | Wales' Strongest Woman | International Sports Stadium ,Cardiff | 1st | Open |
| 2022 | Wales' Strongest Woman | PB Performance Gym,Cardiff | 1st | Open |
| 2022 | UK's Strongest Woman | Doncaster Dome, Doncaster | 1st | Open |
| 2021 | World's Strongest Woman | Daytona Beach, Florida | 1st | Open |
| 2021 | UK's Strongest Woman | Bangor, County Down | 2nd | Open |
| 2021 | Britain's Strongest Woman | Doncaster | 2nd | Open |
| 2021 | Wales' Strongest Woman | Swansea | 1st | Open |
| 2019 | World's Strongest Woman | Daytona Beach, Florida | 7th | Open |
| 2019 | Bodypower Strongwoman | NEC Birmingham | 1st | Open |
| 2019 | Europe's Strongest Woman | Rotherham | 1st | Open |
| 2019 | Britain's Strongest Woman | Derbyshire | 6th | Open |
| 2019 | British Grip Championships | Stafford | 1st | Open |
| 2019 | Wales' Strongest Woman | Caernarfon | 1st | Open |
| 2018 | Arnold's Europe | Barcelona | 10th | Open |
| 2018 | Europe's Strongest Woman | Belfast | 2nd | Open |
| 2018 | WHEA World Grip Championship | Finland | 1st | Open |
| 2018 | WHEA World Championships[6] | Finland | 1st | Open |
| 2017 | WHEA World Grip Championship | Finland | 1st | Open |
| 2017 | WHEA World Championships[7] | Finland | 1st | Open |
| 2017 | BNSF Britain's Strongest Woman | Newcastle | 1st | Open |
| 2017 | European Grip Championships | Norway | 1st | Open |
| 2016 | UK's Strongest Woman | Kent | 1st | Open |
| World Records | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Record | Sport | Federation | Performance | Record still held? |
| 2023 | Conan's Wheel of Pain | Strongwoman | Arnold Classic | 92 ft 9 in | Yes |
| 2022 | Thor's Hammer[8] | Strongwoman | Rogue | 39 seconds | No |
| 2018 | Handshake Lift (one hand)[9] | Grip | David Horne World of Grip | 84.68 kg | Yes |
| 2018 | Axle Deadlift (20" from the floor) double overhand thumbless grip[10] | Grip | David Horne World of Grip | 137.05 kg | Yes |
| 2018 | 76mm Silarukov Rolling Handle (thumbless) hold (one hand)[11] | Grip | David Horne World of Grip | 47.5 kg | Yes |
| 2018 | IronMind Little Big Horn[12] | Grip | IronMind | 70.96 kg | No |
| 2018 | Log Lift Max[13] | Strongwoman | WHEA | 90 kg | No |
| 2018 | Deadlift Max[14] | Strongwoman | WHEA | 227.5 kg | No |
| 2017 | 2.5" Crusher[15] | Grip | FBBC | 67 kg | Yes |
| 2017 | 3" Trilobite[16] | Grip | Mammoth Grip Tools | 43.1 seconds | Yes |
| 2017 | IronMind Block[17] | Grip | IronMind | 31.55 kg | Yes |
References edit
- ^ "2023 UK's Strongest Woman & Man Results — Rebecca Roberts & Paul Smith Take Gold". Fitness Volt. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Warrington bodybuilder set for space on world stage". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "'Bigger is better': The weightlifter". BBC News. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Grimsditch, Lee (5 September 2021). "Woman sheds nine stone after first date changes her life". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Rebecca Roberts Lifts Big on the Little Big Horn". ironmind.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Strongest man/woman champions - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Strongest man/woman champions - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Record Breakers - Leaderboard". www.roguefitness.com. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "World Records". www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "World Records". www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "World Records". www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Rebecca Roberts Lifts Big on the Little Big Horn". ironmind.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Strongest man/woman records - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Strongest man/woman records - World Heavy Events Association". www.worldheavyeventsassociation.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "VBARCERTS". www.fatbastardbarbellco.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "European Grip Championship 2017". The GripBoard. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "IronMind Block - Rules & World Records". ironmind.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
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