Catherine Phipps
powerlifter strong vegan vegetarian from birth
Catherine is an accomplished powerlifter who regularly competes at elite level in the UK and beyond.
- Multiple qualification for National Championships
- 2025 English Bench Press Champion
- Squatted 160 kg (raw) in the 69 kg category
Prior to powerlifting, Catherine spent a long time doing boxing, Muay Thai and other martial arts.
Catherine has made the podium at several competitions and lifting in the raw 69 kg category she has recorded a squat of 160 kg, bench of 95 kg and deadlift of 180 kg, all of those personal bests coming from the 2024 British Open Classic and the 2025 English Bench Press Championships.
“I’ve competed in powerlifting since 2019 and have made it to the National Championships every year since 2020, although I didn’t compete in 2021 due to a back injury” she says.
“I recently won the English Bench Press Championships which was a really fun competition.”
Vegan power
“I realised – after watching a documentary on the dairy industry – that this was hypocritical if I wasn’t completely vegan.”
Catherine was raised vegetarian and has never eaten meat.
“Now I’m completely vegan and have been since January 2021” she tells Great Vegan Athletes. “Prior to that, I was largely plant-based but did make some exceptions when eating out.”
“I also love to travel and since turning vegan in 2021 have maintained being vegan even in countries where veganism is very much unknown.”
“My motive to go vegan was always for the animals. While I’d always classed myself as an animal lover and compassionate about animal rights, I realised – after watching a documentary on the dairy industry – that this was hypocritical if I wasn’t completely vegan.”
The treatment of animals is an important issue for Catherine, who also plays a key organising role in Southampton Animal Action, holding outreach and information events as well as demonstrations again animal abuse.
Training for the win
Catherine eats a wide variety of foods, with the main protein sources being tofu, seitan, chickpeas, lentil pasta, plus protein shakes and bars.
“I train 4 times a week which includes the main powerlifting lifts of squat, bench press and deadlift plus a lot of accessory lifts such as dumbbell work, pull ups, dips, and weights machines. While I don’t do any specific cardio exercises now, I walk a lot each day.”
Aside from being strong and successful, there’s another reason for her veganism to be rarely questioned in the gym.
“I’m very lucky to be part of a gym where the owners are vegan and many athletes within the gym are either vegan or largely plant based. Sometimes there are more vegans than non-vegans training!”
Catherine is clearly enjoying her success and competition, and is keen to continue.
“I’m just going to keep going and see where it takes me” she says. “The standard of powerlifting in the UK is incredibly high and it’s a competitive field, but I’d love to win another national level competition.”