We train to perform our best on the platform.
I could have come up with a million excuses to quit and give up, but that’s not who I was taught to be or who I am. On April 10, 2016 I lost my hero and the most influential person in my life: my father. I was distraught, in shock, angry, and felt completely numb. My father had been watching me train for the Women's Pro-Am for weeks. I was supposed to leave in four days for Ohio to compete in the biggest competition of my life. How would I take care of funeral arrangements, bury my father, and have my head straight to compete? I was hit with a whirlwind of emotions. What was the right decision for me to make? I began reflecting on what made my dad the strongest man in the world: kidney transplant patient of 19 years, suffered four massive strokes, battled and beat cancer, two aneurysms, but NEVER once did he stop fighting. That was my answer, I would do this meet in honor of him.
Thursday morning was a rough start. All funeral arrangements had come to an end and I had entered the phase where everything is supposed to go back to normal. Not quite how that goes. So here we go with the crew — Jason, Joey, Melissa, Shelby, and Anika. We were jamming to our favorite 80’s rap, Joey telling wild goose chasing stories, listening and laughing to Jason and Joey argue like an old married couple, Shelby shoveling junk food down her throat — never mind that Melissa and I were still cutting weight and were hangry (hungry + angry). This was my entertainment for the 6 hour drive to Ohio. It was refreshing to think about something else for a while, smile, and laugh with good friends. I was surrounded with love and support. This is where I needed to be.
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Weigh-ins finally arrived. The team got up at 5:00 am and we all went to the sauna so Melissa could sweat off one more pound — my best friend looked like a walking zombie! Unless you have experienced it, you have no idea the willpower, methodical planning, and control it takes to cut weight and maintain your strength. All my teammates made their weight. I felt proud because I had lost 21 pounds in five weeks. Now it was time to eat, rest, and rehydrate.
Our coach, Joey Smith, surprised our team with a trip to the elitefts compound, which was a huge deal. It was a treat! We got to meet Dave Tate in the flesh, along with his family, Traci and Lori. They treated us like royalty and were so welcoming. We could not have asked for better people to share the day with. On to eat some more and to get some much needed rest.
The big day arrived. The competitive atmosphere at the Women’s Pro-Am was contagious. Women of many ages and strength levels were competing. I was star-struck by some of the powerful women with which I was privileged to share the platform. I had been watching and following Laura Phelps on the internet for two years and was so inspired by her hard work and strength. The level of commitment and determination she poses is amazing. In my eyes, Laura has paved the road for women powerlifters and set the standard for others.
Powerlifting is a sport where even strangers who are your competitors will root you on. Rather than cheering against you, powerlifters realize that deep down, everyone aspires to be the best version of themselves. There is an understanding among the athletes because those who train know the arduous grind it takes to be a competitor. My mind was racing. It was time to show who I really was and what I was made of. Melissa and Sam are in the first flight. Melissa always sets the tone for the meet; I feed off of her energy. She gets her first squat, but misses the next two. She is disappointed as am I, but I need her to suck it up and be my cheerleader.
Squat warm-ups felt shaky. My knees were literally knocking. My mind was set on a 390 pound lift. I had killed it in the gym the week before and I knew I could do it. I had to make this lift to have a chance at my elite total. I had been anxiously anticipating getting under the bar in hopes of relieving some anger and working out the frustration. My mindset was ready, but the emotional trauma of the last several days did a number on my body. I squeaked by on my first attempt, which should have been an easy weight for me. I missed my second attempt. Joey and I discussed what I wanted to do for my third. I said, “What do I have to lose? Let's go for it!” Who was I kidding? I knew in my heart that I just didn't have the strength that day to secure my squat.
My body was shaking, I started doubting myself, questioning if I could compete in this meet. Was this self-pity I was feeling? I thought about my two boys and my students, my husband who was there supporting and encouraging me; I looked around the warm-up room at all the strong women who had their own adversities to overcome. My coach reminded me that he missed an 805 pound bench three times before he finally got it. He reminded me why I was there: for my dad, for my boys, and for me. It was time to be the leader that I knew I was, cheer on my teammates, and raise some eyebrows. I was inspired!
Bench presses went great. I went three for three and PR’d. That's exactly what I needed to get my confidence back and strongly finish this meet. I went three for three on deadlifts with another PR. I finished this meet with my biggest total, 880 pounds. I did it.
Yes, I was disappointed I did not perform my best on the platform and missed an opportunity to get my elite total, but it wasn't my time. It will come. More importantly, I walked away accomplishing something much more important: I showed my boys and my students how to be a fighter, even when you feel like quitting. I set an example of how to carry yourself when you feel beaten down, and showed strength in my character. If my story can make a difference or help just one person, then I have been successful.
We appreciate things more when we have to work hard for it. Stay humble. Like my father, I have a fire in me and I never quit. We train to perform our best on the platform and that's exactly what I intend to keep striving toward.
Shelley Prather Yates is a GPC World Champion gold medalist in the 198 Masters Raw. She is ranked for her second consecutive year on www.powerliftingwatch.com, 2015 for 198 Masters Raw she held 4th in squat and full power total, 8th in deadlift; SHW Masters Raw she held 1st in squat and 5th full power total. 2016 for 198 Masters Raw holding 4th place in squat and full power total, and 8th in deadlift; she concurrently holds in SHW Masters Raw 3rd in squat and full power total, and 5th in deadlift. Additionally, she holds 12 first place finishes and over 50 State, National, World Records. Shelley resides in Marion, North Carolina and trains and Nebo Barbell with her coach Joey Smith. This proud mother of two boys is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Masters in Education, and she is currently in her 16th year as an educator in western North Carolina.
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