Many of us think we do all of the heavy lifting around the office, but few can compete on that front with Lily Smalley (below).

The 20-year-old legal assistant at Midlands firm Talbots Law is preparing to travel to the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship later this year after placing third in the English championships. 

Lily Smalley

Smalley only took up the sport last September

Smalley’s achievement is remarkable, given that she only took up the sport last September and continues to be a full-time member of Talbots’ trusts and estates team.

‘When I started a demanding career in law, I knew that I had to find a hobby to help me balance personal and professional life, to give myself something to dedicate myself to outside work,’ she explained. ‘I had competed as a gymnast for 10 years so commitment to an intense training schedule felt natural. I found a love for powerlifting, due to both the physical and mental growth I quickly saw in myself as a result of it.’

The firm sponsors its young star to take part in powerlifting competitions. After her success on the national stage, Smalley has received an invitation to travel with the England squad to Sun City, South Africa, in October.

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