((PKG)) WOMEN WEIGHTLIFTERS
((Banner: Lifting Weights))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Rosedale, Maryland))
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
My name is Mariel Gaviola. I work as a proofreader for a
financial investment company in Baltimore.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I have a competition next week and it's probably my sixth
competition or so. I started competing in 2018 or 2017 and
since then, I've had about six gold medals in my weight
classes.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I think in the US, weightlifting has actually really hit the
ground running. I think social media has a great kind of view
on weightlifting and women nowadays. It's a very good
message to see that women can be strong instead of just
slender, something, were beautiful outside of just, you know,
our physical appearances. A lot of the times I'll hear,
women arent supposed to be lifting heavy weight. You're
going to get injured. Your anatomy is not built for this. You
can't compete with men. You're too small. Personally, I'm
tiny, and a lot of people, when I tell them I compete, they,
you know, don't understand. They're like, How? You're so
small. And its a different kind of strength that women have
to understand the sport gives you.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
In my experience, women and men can handle pretty much
the same workload. There's about 52 to 55 percent men at
this gym and, you know, about 45 percent women here. You
know, sometimes a male with an ego will come in here and
very quickly have to check his ego because he sees that
there are women in here lifting more weight than he is.
((NATS: Jason and Mariel))
Youve made all the jerks (lifts). Youre not going on 64 front
squats.
Yeah.
Start, good.
Oh, for my jerks, it was 58.
58, no problem.
Yes, I..
Felt like you were jumping back? I didnt see you on the
ones I watched.
((NATS))
((Kelly McDonald, Weightlifter, Federal Employee))
I started lifting here about a year-and-a-half ago, and before
that I did CrossFit for a year. Weight lifting has a lot of
benefits to me. The biggest one obviously is the physical
side of things. Seeing the improvement in body composition
and strength has been tremendous. The other side of things
is obviously the mental. So, this is my stress relief and it
helps me deal with the stresses of everyday life. So, it's kind
of my outlet. It's also my social life, since I spend so many
hours here.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
It's okay for women to be strong and powerful. I think there
was a stigma for a long time that women weren't allowed to
have muscles. But we have shown, as a society, that we are
okay with that now. And it's a great thing because women
are taking this sport very seriously and noticing that they're
not getting big and bulky like they were worried about, but
they're getting toned and fit and coordinated and strong and
more confident. And, you know, that's just a great thing for
anybody. But it definitely seems to be more accepted in our
society than, I think, it was before.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
You cant let, like, the stereotypes around you affect how you
feel and what you want to pursue.
((NATS))
((Banner: Lifting Weights))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Rosedale, Maryland))
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
My name is Mariel Gaviola. I work as a proofreader for a
financial investment company in Baltimore.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I have a competition next week and it's probably my sixth
competition or so. I started competing in 2018 or 2017 and
since then, I've had about six gold medals in my weight
classes.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I think in the US, weightlifting has actually really hit the
ground running. I think social media has a great kind of view
on weightlifting and women nowadays. It's a very good
message to see that women can be strong instead of just
slender, something, were beautiful outside of just, you know,
our physical appearances. A lot of the times I'll hear,
women arent supposed to be lifting heavy weight. You're
going to get injured. Your anatomy is not built for this. You
can't compete with men. You're too small. Personally, I'm
tiny, and a lot of people, when I tell them I compete, they,
you know, don't understand. They're like, How? You're so
small. And its a different kind of strength that women have
to understand the sport gives you.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
In my experience, women and men can handle pretty much
the same workload. There's about 52 to 55 percent men at
this gym and, you know, about 45 percent women here. You
know, sometimes a male with an ego will come in here and
very quickly have to check his ego because he sees that
there are women in here lifting more weight than he is.
((NATS: Jason and Mariel))
Youve made all the jerks (lifts). Youre not going on 64 front
squats.
Yeah.
Start, good.
Oh, for my jerks, it was 58.
58, no problem.
Yes, I..
Felt like you were jumping back? I didnt see you on the
ones I watched.
((NATS))
((Kelly McDonald, Weightlifter, Federal Employee))
I started lifting here about a year-and-a-half ago, and before
that I did CrossFit for a year. Weight lifting has a lot of
benefits to me. The biggest one obviously is the physical
side of things. Seeing the improvement in body composition
and strength has been tremendous. The other side of things
is obviously the mental. So, this is my stress relief and it
helps me deal with the stresses of everyday life. So, it's kind
of my outlet. It's also my social life, since I spend so many
hours here.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
It's okay for women to be strong and powerful. I think there
was a stigma for a long time that women weren't allowed to
have muscles. But we have shown, as a society, that we are
okay with that now. And it's a great thing because women
are taking this sport very seriously and noticing that they're
not getting big and bulky like they were worried about, but
they're getting toned and fit and coordinated and strong and
more confident. And, you know, that's just a great thing for
anybody. But it definitely seems to be more accepted in our
society than, I think, it was before.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
You cant let, like, the stereotypes around you affect how you
feel and what you want to pursue.
((NATS))
