Local Hero Lifts the Community: How Sara Wall Powered Velocity Fitness Gym to Powerlifting Glory

In the iron-forged world of powerlifting, where every squat tests your limits and every deadlift demands surrender to the grind, one local athlete is proving that true strength isn’t just measured in pounds—it’s built in the bonds of community. Meet Sara Wall, a 45 year old mum of two girls, whose recent triumph at the Mick Barry, Gloucester Powerlifting Competition on Saturday 23rd November, not only shattered personal records but also hoisted the flag for Velocity Fitness Gym, our neighbourhood’s heartbeat of hustle and heart.

The bar loaded to 145kg for Sara’s final deadlift attempt, the crowd hushed. For Sara, this wasn’t just a lift, it was the culmination of months of sweat-soaked mornings at Velocity Fitness Gym.  With a deep breath and a nod to her spotters (fellow gym members who’d travelled to cheer her on), she descended, exploded upward, and locked out. The roar that followed? It belonged to the Isle of Wight, represented proudly by one of our own.

Sara’s journey to the platform started humbly, like so many at Velocity. A new mum with little direction in her fitness journey. She wandered into our fitness club not chasing medals, but clarity. “Here, the coaches taught me it’s okay to load my own bar, literally! and stop chasing numbers on the scale and to concentrate on being strong and building muscle.” Sara said.  Under the guidance of Angie, her personal trainer, she dove into structured programs blending Olympic lifts with progressive overloads, all in a space that feels more like family than facility.

What makes Sara’s story?  It’s the gym’s secret sauce: a no-BS environment where beginners rub elbows with beasts. Our powerlifting corner, equipped with competition-grade bars and weight plates and monolifts, hosts weekly practice that mimic the real deal, building confidence rep by rep. Sara didn’t just train; she transformed, adding 30kg to her Deadlift, 25kg to her Bench press and 15kg to her squat. Her totals at the comp? A jaw-dropping 335 at 83kg body weight. This already makes her an advanced lifter, earning her a place on the leader board of Powerlifting for females in her weight category. But the real win? The Velocity logo on her T shirt, a badge of the community that believed in her first.

This isn’t a solo spotlight, it’s a team triumph. Sara’s prep rallies saw gym-goers boosting her confidence, training with her and sharing her enthusiasm for the sport. “When I hit that deadlift PR, I heard their voices in my head, ‘One more, you’ve got this!'” she says. It’s stories like hers that fuel Velocity’s mission: Since opening in 2014, we’ve sent numerous athletes to comps, from Bikini, Hyrox, Brazilian Jui Jitsu and Powerlifting, we have raised thousands of pounds over the years for local causes through Zumbathon’s, charity runs and fostered a vibe where “strong” means more than muscles, it means showing up for each other.

As Sandown braces for “winter’s chill”, Sara is already eyeing up more events in 2026 and Velocity instructors have eyes on coaching a gym team next. Sara’s advice? “Start small, stay consistent, and find your crew. Velocity Fitness gave me mine.” For those inspired to channel their inner lifter, we offer free intro sessions to powerlifting basics, because every champion starts with that first unrack.

Sara’s lift reminds us: Strength isn’t solitary. It’s the collective push that elevates us all. Drop by Velocity Fitness and feel the power. Who knows, your story could be next.