Help Resa on the Road to Calgary!

Theresa Simanu or as her family and friends know her as "Resa" was virtually unknown to the powerlifting world until about 18 months ago when she made her presence known as a force to be reckoned with.

A journey that started with a shy girl giving CrossFit a go for a more healthier lifestyle has lead to an even bigger path than she could have ever imagined. After the relentless encouragements and strong hints of one of her CrossFit coaches Jan Zabawski to try Power-lifting noticing her effortless raw strength; she decided to take the advice and as a tick on the bucket list enter her first competition Get Strength Novice Competition in Auckland. She is now coached by the Great Iron Giant Reuben Simanu whom wanted to share some words about her:

"My journey with Resa and Reti only started in April of 2017 after I was shown a video of Resa competing at the APA powerlifting champs. That day she won her class and squatted 190, benched 95 and deadlifted 210. I still remember counting the plates to check if I was seeing right because her speed during those lifts wasn't matching the weight that was on the bar...it looked too easy! She seemed very unsure, shy yet very humble when she lifted that day and I thought to myself what an absolute talent!!! Resa contacted me regarding some advice with lifting through a mutual friend and then it's all been a roller coaster of a ride ever since. From a coaching perspective, you can't ask for a more diligent, hard working student and the fact that she trains together with her husband makes for an amazing team dynamic.

Fast forward 6 months to late October 2017 where she competed at the NZ Record Breakers in Auckland, her last comp of the year. However in the previous months she added a North Island and NZ title to her Auckland title but she had also set numerous NZ open women's PL records. When the record breakers were completed, Resa had yet again set 2 new national records (squat 230 and total 575) as well as set 4 PBs. She finished her year in fine style and got to share it on her home turf with family and friends so that was a special moment.

By the end of only 6 months working together with Resa and Reti, she has added 40kg to her squat, 20kg to her bench, 20kg to her deadlift and 85kg to her total but I have to say the most frightening thing about all her PB lifts at the record breakers was she still had alot more strength left in the tank.

Here are her current stats:

- 2×NZ open records

- Unofficial Oceania open total record 575kg

- Unofficial Commonwealth total record 575kg

- Unofficial IPF 84+ Open ranking of 2nd in the world - total 575kg

- Unofficial IPF 84+ Open ranking of 4th in the world - squat 230kg

- Unofficial IPF 84+ Open ranking of =7th in the world - bench press 115kg

- Unofficial IPF 84+ Open ranking of 3rd in the world - deadlift 230kg

When you are looking for talent to deliver on potential, you can't help but wonder just how far Resa can go. If she has delivered this much in only 6 short months, what will she achieve in 2 years? The 2018 IPF World Powerlifting Champs beckon and it will be the one place where this shy yet always humble girl from out West can prove to the world that she is an alien in the the sport of powerlifting."

To this point Resa and her husband/manager Reti have self funded her ventures nationally. They already feel thankful and blessed that Resa's journey has come this far and God-willing, the aim is to get #teamResa over to Calgary, Canada in June 2018 to compete in the World Powerlifting Championship in the 84+ category. Her numbers and stats already name her among the best to compete - your financial support will enable her, to show the International Powerlifting Federation what she is capable of and more.