My name is Kindle Wynne, and I’m a senior at Liberty University studying Education. Growing up, I played soccer and softball, but the primary sport that I consistently played was basketball. For the longest time, I had hoped to play college basketball and worked hard to get on a team. But as life shifted, so did my path– I discovered Powerlifting.
I started lifting casually to stay in shape and to clear my head. As I began lifting heavier, my closest friends encouraged me to check out Liberty’s Powerlifting team. I visited one of the days the club team was training, met some of the team, and began with a coach on the same day. The moment I stepped into the world of powerlifting, I felt something. And I found a place I felt I belonged. I fell in love with the sport when I touched the bar. I discovered a sense of peace, confidence, and community that I had never experienced before.
But the journey wasn’t always smooth. People have a lot of assumptions when it comes to weightlifting, especially when it comes to women in strength sports. Being a woman taking up space in the gym, especially at a private university, didn’t always sit well with everyone. I faced a lot of judgment and pushback. Honestly, the biggest battle wasn’t just with other people; it was with me. I came into powerlifting with a lot of ego, thinking I had it all figured out. Then came my first competition, and with it, my first significant injury. I injured my hip pretty badly and had folded under the bar, both physically and mentally. Everything hurt. I felt discouraged, defeated, and terrified to lift again. Looking back now, I realize I had relied too much on myself to prove a point to others. I thought it was all about my own strength. But the truth is, God had been sustaining me the whole time. Everything began to change once I let go of my pride and gave control back to Him. My entire mindset shifted, and I remembered my purpose in playing this sport. My faith and determination carried me through its darkest moments.
Shortly after, I was blessed to become a 2x first-place winner in my weight class and am currently ranked 11th nationally in collegiate powerlifting in the 100kg class. But those titles are just numbers; they represent every moment I didn’t give up, every prayer, and every ounce of resilience I found when I felt that I had none left. Powerlifting has helped me find my voice. I’ve always felt called to lead, teach, and uplift. This sport has given me a whole new way of doing that. I lift for every girl who has ever been told she’s “too much” or “doesn’t belong “ in a space of strength. I lift to show that taking up space is powerful, that being strong, both inside and out, is beautiful.
Because of this journey, I’ve had opportunities I never even dreamed of, such as attending Gymshark Lift events, networking with athletes and creators, and sharing my story with others. But more than anything, I don’t just powerlift for myself; I do it for the future of this sport. I believe in powerlifting’s ability to change lives, just as it changed mine, and one day, I hope to see it take the world stage at the Olympics. Maybe even stand there myself.
Powerlifting has taught me that no matter what kind of athlete you are, you must trust the process, stay humble, stay focused, and always remember that real strength comes from something greater than yourself.