Jan Set To Raise The Barbell

Article by The Redcliffe Guide August 2024

Powering her way to new heights, Redcliffe local and Powerlifting Champion Jan Roesch is going from strength to strength.

Redcliffe Local and Powerlifting Champion

Powering her way to new heights, Redcliffe local and Powerlifting Champion Jan Roesch is going from strength to strength.

Surpassing her personal best at the recent Powerlifting Australia National Championships, Jan qualified for this year’s World Powerlifting Championships.

Jan said she was elated by the results.

Achieving Goals and Setting Records

“When you achieve your goals as an athlete, the feeling lasts for a long time and should be bottled,” she said. “With only four weeks training preparation going into the competition,  I wasn’t overly concerned if I didn’t go for any of the records.

“However, it ended up being my best competition ever and I achieved 4 Australian Records, 4 Oceania Records, and 2 World Records, as well as a Gold medal for my age group and the Silver medal for my weight class. World Championships here we come!”

From Being Extremely Ill To Winning A Novice Powerlifting Event.

Jan’s road to the top has not been an easy one. “I began strength training for my health after a major surgery I almost didn’t survive,” she said. “A dear friend of mine, who was a world champion powerlifter, introduced me to a strength and conditioning coach, who helped me recover and get strong.”

“Through that process, my friend commented that I was lifting heavier weights than her and should be competing. So, with my team behind me, I decided to enter a novice event, which I won, I was hooked!”

Setting Records and Qualifying for World Championships

After joining Powerlifting Australia at 49, Jan encountered a significant challenge – contracting long-covid in April 2023, resulting in an almost year-long recovery.

When the National championships came around, Jan had only five weeks notice. But with her sights set on success, Jan lifted her way through the competition, qualifying for the world championships in October.

Passion For Powerlifting and Over 50’s Health

Jan’s passion for powerlifting has permeated her professional life, with her business Over 50’s Health helping others improve their health through strength, nutrition, heart, and mind health.

“The beauty of powerlifting is that it involves the functional movements we make every single day, like walking up the stairs, carrying the groceries, opening doors, sitting down, getting up out of a chair, and lifting something from the floor,” she said.

“Let me tell you, I’ve been lifting heavy weights for a while now, and what it does is change my body composition, improve my bone density, and give me confidence and better mental health.”

“I say there’s nothing better than powerlifting – you don’t have to compete, but please get strong!”