Werribee’s Melissa Maxey is a strong woman, literally.
The mother of two can dead-lift over 200 kilograms, and in July, will fly to the United States to take a shot for first place at the strongman Static Monsters world championships.
Maxey is a pediatric nurse and has worked for both the Royal Children’s and Werribee Mercy Hospital.
“I’m very passionate about nursing because it’s been my whole life, and working shift work has allowed me to have other passions, powerlifting is definitely one of those” she said.
Maxey started power-lifting about four years ago, after she discovered she was “actually pretty good at it”.
“I currently have eight world records and 23 Australian records…and I’m 44,” she said.
“It is so much fun, so empowering too because you feel strong, you feel healthy and you feel just capable, whatever life throws at you set another hurdle and just work at it and get over it and keep going.”
Maxey is raising funds to help with travel and associated competition costs. If you can help go to www.gofundme.com
Fatima Halloum
