Name: Britney Arendse
Sport: Powerlifting
Hometown: Cavan
Impairment: Acquired Spinal Cord
Class: All Weight Categories
Age: 21
Britney began her Para Powerlifting career at the age of 16 after she was recruited to the sport during a wheelchair basketball match. At the age of 21, Britney will make her first appearance at a Paralympic Games in Tokyo for Team Ireland.
In 2018, Britney claimed a gold and bronze double at the World Para Powerlifting Fazaa Championships, competing in the 67kg category the Cavan woman lifted 87kg to secure gold in the junior division and bronze in the senior category. Britney won gold in 2017 at the same championships in the 73kg category.
Britney continued her excellent form in 2018 as she went on to set a new Junior World Record in the 73kg category, becoming the first ever Irish powerlifter to do so. At the age of 18, Britney lifted 98.5kg at the Asia and Oceania Championships in Japan. In 2019, Britney broke her own Junior World Record with a 100kg lift to win gold and bronze, which resulted in Britney moving to 8th in the World rankings from 11th.
Following the cancellation of competitions worldwide, Britney returned to action in March 2021, picking up where she left off, she won bronze in the 67kg category with a 102kg lift at the WPP World Cup in Manchester.
Britney was born in South Africa, she moved to Ireland at the age of five with her parents. Britney acquired her impairment following a car accident in 2009, which results in a spinal cord injury.
Britney will take the stage at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the 73kg category on the 29th of August 2021.
Britney’s Schedule
- Women’s 73kg – 29th August (Day 5)
