Nairobi, July 5 -- At 44, many female fitness enthusiasts opt for Pilates classes, Zumba or yoga sessions, or light weightlifting exercises. Some do long runs or brisk walking. Not Dr Gathoni Kamau.

She has built her fitness life around heavy weights. In the gym, you will find her sinking deep into squats, picking loaded barbells off the floor, and pressing heavy weights from her chest. Deadlifts exceed her own body weight.

Gathoni is a Kenyan living in Wales, working full-time as a psychiatrist. This September, she will step onto a powerlifting platform hoping to lift a total of 285 kilogrammes across three lifts. If she reaches it, she will qualify for the National Masters Competition next year, where women over 40 compete against eac...