Shouldering the Competition: Katya Gorbacheva’s Return to Powerlifting success After Injury

Ending another fantastic year of competition, Katya Gorbacheva has been awarded Best Lifter at the Russian North West regional powerlifting competition.

More commonly competing in the US, Katya weighed in at 72 kg in a 76 kg category. She squatted 165 kg and benched 90 kg. He best lift was a 190 kg deadlift.

“Not my best meet but this is a good start after 3 months of injured shoulder” she says.

Katya has been vegan since 2016. She had some negative blood test results aged just 23, and re-evaluated her diet in several ways.

“Even though I went vegan for health, I’m also a huge environmentalist, and the ethical part makes sense. I wouldn’t eat my dog. Why would I eat a pig? Why would anyone?”

It’s unusual in her nation of birth.

“To say they veganism isn’t popular in Russia would be to underestimate how shocked everyone is when they learn I’m vegan. People mistake with vegetarians and when they sincerely ask ‘why?’…. I usually get a shrug.”

Katya’s pleased to see progress on the shoulder.

“I’ve just finished a physical therapy course, laser and shock therapy. My doctor is an equipped lifter from our gym, so his advice is rock solid. He recommended to avoid movements that hurt, which are dips and pull ups at the moment.”

“When you begin pushing the train – it doesn’t move at once. Then moves slowly, then faster and faster. At some point it requires very little effort to keep it rolling. But this takes time. Remember this and keep pushing the train.”