When Reeni Tharakan hit the gym 10 years ago, at 53, it was driven by a desire to lose weight and stay healthy. The last thing on her mind was powerlifting, let alone winning gold medals at international powerlifting competitions. She won four gold medals in her category at the recently concluded International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic & Equipped Masters Powerlifting Championships at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Gymming was a new experience for Reeni who confesses to not having seen the inside of a gym until then: “I did not know what a dumbbell was or a kettlebell.” Once she began training, her trainer saw potential in her and egged her on to lift weights.
“My trainer, Jagan KG, encouraged me to lift weights right from the start. He saw my interest and understood my capability, and encouraged me to lift [weights],” says Reeni over the phone from Thycattusserry, near Cherthala. This achievement would not have been possible without her trainer’s support and that of her immediate family which includes her husband and two daughters, she confesses. Despite the backing of her family, the ride has been anything but smooth. “It is not approved of in traditional, conventional families. Questions include ‘why are you doing this at this age?’”
