Island powerlifting athlete Mary Gonzalez-Rodriguez is all geared up, trained, and ready to represent Belize in the upcoming North American Powerlifting Association (NAPF 2023) regional powerlifting tournament set to take place from August 6th through the 12th in the Cayman Islands.
Over the past months, Mary has been training and preparing for this important sporting event. This milestone has taken hard work and sacrifice, and Mary wants to dedicate this opportunity to her island home. “San Pedro, this is for you,” she noted, thanking everyone for her journey’s encouragement, generosity, and kindness. “I cannot wait to perform and make this dream come true,” she stated.
A dedicated athlete, Mary is no stranger to powerlifting and, for the past years, has been honing her endurance in the CrossFit discipline. She became a champion after landing first place in the annual National Powerlifting Competition held this past February 25-26, 2023, at the St. John’s College Junior College Gymnasium in Belize City. The Belize Powerlifting Association organized the competition, where Mary competed in the 84+ kg category, squatting a final 390 lbs, benching 190 lbs, and deadlifting 415 lbs. She went nine for nine without incident and brought home the “Best Female Lifter 2023″ title. This competition served as a qualifier for NAPF.
On Wednesday, July 19th, she joined the rest of the Belizean athletes heading to the Cayman Islands for a brief ceremony at the Marion Jones conference room in Belize City, where the National Sports Council (NSC) presented them with their official tracksuits. Mary proudly accepted her gear and thanked the NSC. Mary and the rest of the national team continue making final preparations to leave the country for the Cayman Islands.
Team Belize Powerlifting for NAPF 2023 includes 18 athletes plus the coaching and chaperone staff. According to reports, this is the largest Belize contingency representing the country in powerlifting. The team consists of four females and one male in the sub-junior division (14 to 18 years), two male juniors (19-23 years), four females and four males in the open division (24 to 39 years), and three female athletes in the Master division (40+ years).
Director of Sports Iris Centeno said that the donation reflects their commitment to promoting athleticism and acknowledges the hard work and dedication demonstrated by Belizean athletes who represent Belize on the international stage. Meanwhile, the President of the Belize Powerlifting Association thanked the NSC for the generous assistance.The NAPF Championships is renowned for gathering the most exceptional powerlifting athletes across North America, showing their strength, discipline, and dedication to the sport. The International Powerlifting Federation-affiliated event attracts approximately 350 athletes, coaches, handlers, and support staff over seven days.
The San Pedro Sun wishes Mary and Team Belize Powerlifting all the best in this prestigious and challenging competition.
