A mum from Bracknell has shared her ‘zero to hero’ journey from being a newcomer to powerlifting to winning gold at a recent world championship event.

Carrie Annis 42, has lived in Hanworth for the last 21 years with her twin sons and a daughter.

Looking for a fresh challenge in her life, she decided to take up powerlifting this January.

And it’s safe to say her journey has been a resounding success, as she won gold for ‘raw lifts’ at the Global Powerlifting Committee (GPC) world championships in Slovakia.

Ms Annis won gold at the championships held on October 17 after successfully qualifying at an event in Morecambe in July.

To achieve the win, she had to do raw lifts in what are called the ‘three disciplines’ of powerlifting –  squat, benchpress and deadlifts.

It is all the more remarkable given she only began powerlifting this year.

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Explaining her journey, Ms Annis said: “I’m 42, it’s another achievement, being old-ish and starting powerlifting, it was something different for me.

“I’ve got before and after pictures and they are worlds apart. I’ve had to lose weight just by lifting heavy weights. Your body size changes completely.

“It’s been such a short time, to come from zero to hero in eight months.”

To achieve gold, she did one squat at 165kg, three bench lifts at 85kg, 90kg and 95kg and two deadlifts at 160kg and 175kg.

Ms Annis has credited her training at the Bodyzone gym for her success.

The gym is located in the Bracknell Leisure Centre and is run by Sid Bourne.

Ms Annis said: “I used to train at The Gym Group but I maxed out the dumbbells.

“Bodyzone popped up, they’ve got a huge range of equipment and that was it, I started there.

“I got a warm welcome from Sid, he took me under his wing, and I’ve been using it since then.

“It’s a very friendly environment, and there are lots of people who give you advice and encouragement.

“You have people there that have years of experience in there. I call this a proper gym.”

In December 2021, there were fears that Bodyzone would have to close after an initial agreement for it to remain in the Leisure Centre until 2028 was apparently voided due to a ‘policy change’.

However, the gym remains open after Mr Bourne submitted an official complaint about the policy change to Bracknell Forest Council.

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Steve Booth, Head of Strategic Property, Bracknell Forest Council, said: “The council’s understanding is that Everyone Active, which manages Bracknell Sport and Leisure Centre, offered Bodyzone Gym terms for a new lease of their current premises earlier in the year.

“Bodyzone has been allowed to stay in situ to allow time for solicitors to be instructed and for a new lease to be drawn up.

“We have not yet been advised whether Bodyzone have accepted the terms.”

Bracknell Leisure Centre is shared by Bodyzone and Everyone Active, the council's leisure services contractor. 

Clarifying the situation at the leisure centre, a spokesperson for Everyone Active said: “We’re always keen to support local businesses, particularly those who share a mutual aim to encourage more people to be active.

“The relationship with Bodyzone stems back prior to Everyone Active taking over the management of Bracknell Leisure Centre and the original lease came to an end earlier this year. 

 “Since then, we, as the management company for the centre, have been negotiating new lease terms with Bodyzone.

“Unfortunately, however, the discussions are complex due the financial circumstances of the Bodyzone business.

“Taking these details into account, new lease terms have been proposed to the company owner, and we await a response from their legal representatives on this.”