Molly Walsh, a student of Sports and Exercise Movement and president of the Kent Barbell Club – the University of Kent’s weightlifting society - has been named winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Sports Development award at the Kent Student Awards 2020 for her leadership of the society.
Molly’s presidency has also provided a safe space and a positive training environment for members, especially with female-only training sessions allowing those hesitant to begin training to take part.
Olympic weightlifting has been Molly’s passion since she began lifting at the age of 14, eventually leading to a silver medal at the British Championships. Inspired by her own success, Molly was keen to extend her personal knowledge and experiences to boost what Kent Barbell could offer.
In February, Molly completed her Level 1 British Weightlifting qualification. Having received Strength and Conditioning training as a part of the Sport Scholarship Scheme, the opportunity to learn Olympic Lifting was an opportunity she worked to make available to all students, with the aim of growing Kent Barbells competitive team and to take part in the British University Championships. This year Kent Barbell plans to partner with Kent’s lacrosse team to enhance the strength and conditioning training available.
Molly notes that one highlight was having a strong team for the winter powerlifting Competition, the first of its kind hosted in the ‘Pit’ at the University’s Gym. Featuring 13 competitors, a professional photographer and prizes including ‘Best Male Total’ ‘Best Female Total’ and ‘Lifter of the Day’, the day was a great success for the club and saw several competitors become Great British Powerlifting Federation members.
Leading a society develops many professional and personal skills, including improvements in resilience, confidence and preparation. Having previously been anxious about presenting lectures, Molly now feels confident enough to lead sessions of up to 30 people, as well as completing online coaching courses.
Molly has big plans for the club this year, including sending Kent Barbell’s biggest team to the British University Championships in both the Powerlifting and Weightlifting categories. With the society’s largest competition team to date, who have been training diligently through lockdown, Molly hopes for Kent to host another Competition series. She also aims to make the event free-to-enter since the venue is on campus and all the referees and loaders are Kent Barbell committee members.
Also in the future-works of Kent Barbell are some unique seminars, including the annual Strongman seminar with England’s strongest novice Scott McGowan.
Molly said of winning her award: ‘I am so honoured to be awarded and recognised in this way by the University and am so proud of every member of Kent Barbell and their personal journeys. Playing a part in the changed perceptions of “strength” on campus and representing the club in this way is such an honour. Every member has inspired me to be the best president I can be and I feel so proud of what we have built and of the part the club has played in the changing perceptions of female weight training.’
Any students who wish to join the society can do so by heading to the Kent Union website.
Any questions can also be fielded on the club’s Instagram page via @kentbarbell.