Preston's Rhianon Lovelace wins World's Strongest Woman title
Rhianon Lovelace secured the prize at the America's World Strongest Series.
She claimed the title as her partner Luke Davies, also a strongman competitor, cheered her on from the stands.
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Hide AdThe 22-year-old won the World's Strongest Woman under 64kg crown at the event, which took place at the Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, between Friday, December 7 and Sunday, December 9.
The couple own the Kaos gym in Greenbank Street, Preston.
Writing on the gym's Facebook page, they said: "Congratulations to Kaos Owner Rhianon Lovelace on becoming U64 World's Strongest Woman 2018!
Last, the Post told how the couple both qualified for the Official Strongman Games.
And the couple have used their year-long relationship to motivate each other to get bigger and better.
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Hide AdFormer Lytham St Annes High pupil Rhianon, who grew up on Albert Road, said: “We have both worked so hard, it was such an honour to receive my invite. I’m over the moon.
“To compete next to Luke is going to be amazing.”
The former University of Central Lancashire student was a powerlifting world champion in 2015 at the age of 18, having got into lifting sports in 2013.
She said: “I was into horse riding until four years ago when I had a serious injury.
“Through rehabilitation in the gym I found a new love for lifting and strength sports.”
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Hide AdWelshman Luke, who came to Preston to study at UCLan, said: “Some of the people competing at the Games are the biggest and best names in the sport so it’s going to be amazing.
“It’s a massive platform for us going forward.”
The couple are looking to local businesses and organisations to raise between £1,500 and £2,000 to fund the trip to the 7,600-seat Dorton Arena in North Carolina.
Rhianon, who now lives in Preston, said: “If we don’t get the funding we ultimately wont be able to go.”