Strongwoman With Cerebral Palsy Sets Two World Records, Heads to U.S. for World Championships
Strongwoman Alana Walker has refused to allow cerebral palsy to prevent her from pursuing extraordinary feats of strength.
The 34-year-old British athlete recently set two world records at the GB Disabled World Record Day competition, including a massive 201.4-kilogram (444-pound) seated axle deadlift.
Walker also established a world record in the seated sandbag-to-shoulder event with a 51.5-kilogram (113.5-pound) lift.
Both records were set in the Women’s Seated 3 classification during the July 12 competition at Iron Island in Bury St Edmunds, England. GB Disabled Strongman has since confirmed both marks as new world records.
Alana Walker Adapts Strongman Training Around Cerebral Palsy
Walker’s 444-pound deadlift becomes even more impressive when considering how she performs the movement.
Cerebral palsy has left Walker with paralysis on her left side. Instead of gripping the axle normally with both hands, she uses a sling attached to her left arm while pulling the weight.
“The way I lift is slightly different to other lifters,” Walker explained. “Because of paralysis down my left side, I deadlift with a sling attached to my arm instead of two hands.”
Other strongman events require similar adaptations.
Walker explained that she hugs Atlas stones rather than attempting to grip them conventionally with two hands.
Her disability was not the only obstacle she faced while chasing the records. The competition took place during a heatwave, something Walker said presented an additional concern because she also has epilepsy and high temperatures can exacerbate her symptoms.
Despite the conditions, she successfully established records in two of her strongest events.
Strongman Became Part Of Walker’s Rehabilitation
Walker did not initially set out to become a record-breaking strongwoman.
She began lifting weights recreationally as a way to stay active and help manage her condition. Her introduction to competitive strongman came after attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Birmingham and discovering GB Disabled Strongman.
The unusual events gave her a new reason to continue training.
“It was a good way to look after my condition and it kept me wanting to do rehabilitation for it,” Walker said.
Strongman also provided something that conventional rehabilitation could not always offer: measurable competitive goals.
“Strongman made training a little bit different so it didn’t become a chore…I could set goals in competitions or events.”
Those goals have now resulted in two world records.
Walker Now Heads To The United States
Walker is already preparing for her next challenge.
In September, she is scheduled to travel to Phoenix, Arizona, for the Static Monsters World Championships, where she will compete against athletes from around the world.
The competition will present a different challenge than the record-breaking event in England.
Walker said the World Record Day featured movements she knew suited her strengths, particularly the deadlift and sandbag-to-shoulder. The upcoming world championships will force her to tackle a less predictable collection of events.
“Emotionally I’m quite nervous but in terms of the events I’m confident,” Walker said. “With the Worlds they’ve thrown me in the deep end.”
For now, Walker heads to the United States having already accomplished something remarkable.
By adapting traditional strongman movements around paralysis on one side of her body, she has turned training that initially helped with rehabilitation into a competitive career, and now two world records.
Image embed via Instagram @waddling_strong
