I've always been an athlete, for as long as I can remember - at 14 I was national fencing, and after that I practiced martial arts, swimming and track & field. I discovered powerlifting in 2006, after surviving an episode of a lethal chronica neurological disorder. I fell in love with it and it saved my life.

I love powerlifting because the training itself balances my mind and body, it is something of a transcendental experience. Competing is like being elavated to another consciousness level. The intensity of the experience is uncomparable to anything I've ever felt (except competing, in another sport).