TAMPA, Fla. — For years, weightlifting has often been viewed as a sport dominated by men. But at gyms and weight rooms across the country, more women are stepping up to the bar.
At the University of South Florida, female weightlifters say their experiences are helping challenge the idea that strength sports are only for men.
Danila Tuazon, a USF weightlifter, has seen that difference firsthand while competing at the national level.
She said crowds often appeared more interested in watching the men’s competitions than the women’s events.
“At nationals, a lot of people came to watch the men compete and a lot of people didn’t come to watch the lighter girls compete,” Tuazon said.
For Tuazon, the lack of attention was difficult after spending months preparing for competition.
“I put so much time and effort prepping for nationals and I was so excited to show everybody what I can do and there were not a lot of people cheering us on,” she said.
Photo from @danilalifts on Instagram
Despite those challenges, women continue to make their presence known in strength sports.
According to the International Weightlifting Federation, women were not allowed to compete in Olympic weightlifting until the 2000 Sydney Games, more than a century after weightlifting first appeared in the Olympics.
By the 2024 Paris Olympics, the sport had reached an even split, with 60 men and 60 women competingFor Miya Valecko, a USF powerlifter, representation can play an important role in encouraging other women to participate.
“At one point in time, powerlifting wasn’t just like a male dominated sport, it was just a male sport only,” Valecko said.
Valecko said seeing other women compete helped her realize that she could do the same.
“I looked at them and said, hey, I could do that too,” she said.
That sense of representation is part of a broader increase in women’s participation in strength training.
A 2023 global study by the International Weightlifting Federation, called “Move Every Mind,” found that 40% of more than 37,000 women surveyed across 16 countries were regularly participating in strength training.
For women entering the weight room, the experience can involve more than physical strength. It can also mean confronting expectations about how women should look, how strong they should be and whether they belong in a traditionally male-dominated environment.
Photo from @danilalifts on Instagram
As more women lift, compete and represent the sport, athletes like Tuazon and Valecko say they are helping create space for the women who come next.
For some, stepping into the weight room is not just about lifting heavier weights. It is about finding confidence, building community and proving that strength sports have a place for everyone.