Farhanna Farid, the Asian power lifting champion and six-time world record breaker, also finds strength in empowering people to find their own
WHAT DOES THE TERM “GAME CHANGER” MEAN TO YOU?
I believe it’s someone bold, brazen, and not afraid to go against the grain to challenge the status quo as they’re tired of the norm and wish to blaze the trail for others to make things better for themselves as well as others.
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES YOU FEEL ARE VITAL TO BE A GAME CHANGER?
Curiosity, resilience and openness.
HOW WOULD YOU SAY YOU’VE PLAYED YOUR PART AS A GAME CHANGER IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
I would like to believe that I have created ripples of awareness in the sport and normalised women lifting weights and lifting heavy too. But beyond that, I hope to have inspired people to pursue something for themselves, regardless of whatever society has typecasted them to be.
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS AND MAJOR CHALLENGES OF THAT JOURNEY? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME EACH HURDLE?
Meeting like-minded people from all over the world who share a profound love for the sport has been truly enlightening. On top of that, hearing stories of strangers who pursued something initially frightening to them after hearing my story reminds me why I do what I do. However, with every peak comes a low but I do believe each challenge has fortified me to become the person I am today.
Over the years, I have developed imposter syndrome which comes and goes but I’m blessed to have an incredible support system of passionate and like-minded people to remind me who I am, and how far I’ve come, and keep me both grounded and motivated. Injuries also are simply part and parcel of any sport and while I’ve done my best to avoid them, a back injury got the best of me when I was prepping for the World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships in June. Not being able to train and lift weights, let alone walk or breathe without back-jolting pain, felt extremely bleak and frustrating for me. Focusing on what I could still do instead of what I couldn’t do, helped me take each day as it came.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR MOTIVATIONS AND YOUR FIELD THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY?
I’ve learned that I am limited to what I limit myself to be. My body is strong and resilient but it is my mind that takes me to the next level that allows me to transcend my physical capacity.
WHAT ARE SOME CHANGES YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IN YOUR INDUSTRY AND HOW WOULD YOU SEE YOUR ROLE IN INFLUENCING IT?
I hope to not only see more women lifting but also see the community supporting them on their journey. I think there are equal parts criticism as there is support out there now. I strongly believe powerlifting doesn’t have to be a sport for the strong, male, or the youthful as it can be a sport for all as we’re all built differently and define strength in our way. There is also strength in diversity and it is worth celebrating. I hope my involvement in the sport can show people that women can excel in a supposedly male-dominated field. I want to show that I can be ‘this’ and ‘that’ or look like ‘this’ but still be able to do ‘that’ as I don’t have to be limited to a pre-defined role or look.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE?
Aside from my own personal ambitions, my purpose is to highlight powerlifting in Singapore through my achievements so that the field continues to grow and progress. The sport has given me so much; I wish for others to experience what I have and discover their fullest potential through powerlifting.
WHAT SHOULD THE NEXT GENERATION OF GAME CHANGERS ASPIRE TO BE?
I believe they should be whatever the next generation needs. Based on how fast we are evolving, I think it might be noteworthy for the next generation of game changers to revisit the past and put their fresh spin on things.
PHOTOGRAPHY ZANTZ HAN
STYLING GREGORY WOO
ART DIRECTION MARISA XIN
HAIR AND MAKEUP SHA SHAMSI, USING KMS AND CHANEL BEAUTY
STYLING ASSISTANTS YULIA SEE AND VANESSA GRACE NG
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