Steven Shi (Powerlifter)
I remember when I was in primary school back in Fiji (My country of birth) I was one of the fasted kids despite not being very tall. But If you put me in a cross country event, I’d come 1000th if there were 2000 kids in the race. So my first attempts at powerlifting which were 5×5 deadlifts, I fell in love with strength training instantly. It came so naturally, unlike my gruelling attempts at getting better at long distance running. It was the sport I should have discovered many years earlier.
I feel as though I’m still very new to the sport and I have just officially finished my last competition as an under 66kg lifter, I will be moving up to the under 74kgs division. This is a very exciting time for me.
Achievements
– 2015 National champion
– 2014 NZ representative at Asia/Oceania
– 2015 NZ representative at Commonwealths Championships
– Current National record holder for squat, 195KGS in the open 66kg division
Sonia Chung (Powerlifter)
Auckland Powerlifting Championships 2015 (Silver junior 63kg)
NZ Classic Powerlifting Championships 2015 (Gold junior 72kg)
Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships 2015 (Bronze squat junior 63kg, Auckland/NZ open/junior 63kg squat records)
I started weight training in 2014 with bodybuilding as my motivation. Consequently, I became passionate and knowledgeable about strength training. I discovered powerlifting and took part in my first competition in March 2015. My main goal for the year was to break the NZ junior squat record. I have decided to continue powerlifting as an open lifter where I will be competing both raw and equipped. I am also currently a student doing a Master of Engineering degree at AUT.
Jak Tan
Jak is the 2015 NZPF U74kg Junior National Champion and Commonwealth Champs bronze medalist. He currently holds the national 74kg junior records in the squat and deadlift.
A software engineering student from Auckland, Jak made his debut onto the NZ powerlifting scene in 2014 where he got runner up in both NZPF regional and national champs in the 74kg class. Since then he has come back to win the gold medal in the 2015 Auckland Champs as well as the NZPF National Champs. He currently holds two national junior records in the 74kg class with a 215kg squat and a 243kg deadlift. Jak has previously represented New Zealand on the international stage at the 2014 Asia/Oceania Powerlifting Champs and at the 2015 Commonwealth Powerlifting Champs. He obtained a fantastic result at the Commonwealth Champs 2015 with a bronze medal finish which also included a bronze medal squat and silver medal deadlift.
Best Squat: 215kg
Best Bench Press: 120kg
Best Deadlift: 255kg
Best Total: 585kg
Highlights:
2014
NZPF Auckland Powerlifting Champs – 2nd place U74kg Junior, Auckland records for squat, deadlift and total
NZPF National Powerlifting Champs – 2nd place U74kg Junior.
2015
NZPF Auckland Powerlifting Champs – 1st Place U74kg Junior, Auckland records for squat, deadlift and total
NZPF National Powerlifting Champs – 1st Place U74kg Junior, National junior records for squat and deadlift
Commonwealth Powerlifting Champs – 3rd Place U74kg Junior, Bronze medal squat, Silver medal deadlift.