We've sat down with several inspirational strong women to discuss how and why they, and everyone, should be lifting weights. For the third interview in our series, we talked to Donna Moore, winner of the World’s Strongest Woman competition in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Tell Us About Your Journey into Strongwoman

I wasn’t very athletic or involved in sports at school, and by the mid-2000s I was a single mother with two young children and felt down in the dumps about my weight. I talked to my GP and she said that she’d help me monitor my weight if I also started going to a gym. I was nervous about going by myself, so one of my friends came with me to some gym leisure centre classes and I absolutely loved it.

After a while I had built my confidence up and then went into a gym. I met a PT named Pete and he taught me how to deadlift and he encouraged me to participate in the gym’s strength challenges. I moved to another gym where I learned how to squat and overhead press and I got invited to a Strongwoman competition. I had watched Strongwoman on TV in the early 2000s and had been really impressed, and I thought to myself ‘I am going to try this competition and I’ll see what happens.’

I went down to the competition with my kids and my mum, and I loved it. It was torture, and I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved it. From there I thought ‘you know what, I’m going to do more of these,’ and I did.

I like to compete, it’s in my nature, and it really helps me mentally and physically to be a more balanced person for my kids and other people in my life. I also want to show them that they can follow their passions and that it’s a matter of working hard.

What is Your Favourite Moment from Competing?

I think winning World’s Strongest Woman 2016 in Doncaster was a highlight because my family could come and support me.

Looking back though, I can draw something from every competition because I’ve had to overcome injuries, surgery, and a pulmonary embolism. Five months after that I came second, and I was so upset with myself and thought it was an awful result, but now I look at it and think that I’d gone through a lot and I’m proud of what I accomplished.

How Are You Coping With Your Current Knee Injury?

I still have to train for my mental health. My coach is smart, and you can train around most injuries. I can do trap bar deadlifts rather than regular deadlifts or one legged work rather than two legged work to strengthen the muscles around the particular problem so that the injury is supported. You just have to make the best out of what you’ve got.

How Has Lockdown Affected Your Training?

I have a garage, but the roof isn’t very high, so I have to be in an exact spot to be able to press. It isn’t mine so I’ve been worried about breaking the roof and have done a lot of outside work, when the weather has been nice enough. Having less kit than in a gym and having an injury was also difficult.

What is Coming Up for You Competition Wise?

I hope to be competing this year, I’m awaiting the date of the Arnold Pro Strongwoman show but it’s a difficult thing because The Arnold relies so heavily on the spectators in the stands, and I don’t know if they’ll be able to have many people. World’s Ultimate Strongman have said that they’ll be in Las Vegas this year. Then there is World’s Strongest Woman in November.

The prize money for women in strongman is often substantially less than for men. Rogue and The Arnold put up good prize money for the women so, even though I’d love to go for all kinds of trophies that does have an impact on the ones I compete in, as it’s expensive to train for competitions. It does make such a big difference.

What is it Like Being a Woman in Strongman?

The strongmen I know are really supportive – Luke Stoltman and I started lifting on the same day at the same gym. I’ve not come across a strongman who isn’t supportive of women doing the sport because it’s a minority sport to begin with.

You had pioneering women leading the way and now we’re coming in and showcasing it to a wider audience who will hopefully be the next generation of Strongwoman. I love competing but someone telling me that I’ve inspired them is the icing on the cake.

Who Are Your Role Models?

In terms of competitors the first woman I saw on TV back then was Jill Mills and I thought she looked amazing, and Gemma Taylor who I have done some training with.

The people at the bottom who have helped hold me up and inspire me to do well are my true heroes though, because they’ve given me their time and passed on their knowledge and I wouldn’t be where I am now without them; my coach Jenny Todd, she’s got a great work ethic and she doesn’t let my work ethic slip either. My other coach Jack Dale at 3D Strength, and Gary Gardener who set me off on my way and taught me about stone lifting.

What Would You Tell Someone at the Very Beginning of Their Strongwoman Journey?

I think they need to concentrate on getting competent at the compound movements; overhead press, bench press, deadlift, and squat as those are the basis of everything.

Go to a gym that does have the specific kit and someone who can teach you what to do, which might mean paying for a coach or for group classes. Then you’ll know that you’re doing it properly and you won’t get injured which means you’ll enjoy it better.

What Mistakes Do You Often See Beginner Strongwoman Making?

One of the biggest mistakes is that they think that they can’t do it, especially things that are visually big events such as truck pulling, tire flipping and atlas stones.

People also need to learn how to do the events properly and follow a progressive program so that they don’t get injured.

What Advice Would You Give Yourself if You Could Start All Over Again

I’d say to be a bit more patient, newbie gains are wonderful, but they do wear off. I’d also be more consistent; it’s a journey and a process and you need to stick to it. I’d pay more attention to rest, recovery, and nutrition as that would make things easier.

What is the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Been Given?

There are so many little pearls of wisdom that I’ve taken along the way, but I think the best advice has been around nutrition and recovery and hydration because if you’re not adequately fueled and rested then your performance suffers a lot.

What are the three pieces of kit you’d recommend for someone interested in starting Strongwoman?

I’d want a Power Rack or Stand, a decent Power Bar and at least a couple of Bumper Plates. Also, some Kettlebells or Loadable Dumbbells to help increase grip strength and, if you’ve got enough space for it, a Strongman Yoke would be good.

Where Do You See the Future of Strongwoman?

I think it’s looking bright, there are so many more competitions for all weight categories and there’s the Masters category for older women. There are also novice and intermediate competitions and there’s lots of pathways people can follow. You can go from Regionals to England’s Strongest Woman and then Britain’s Strongest Woman and then World’s Strongest Woman and I think that helps get people interested in the sport because they can see a path to follow.

What Do You Think Misconceptions Are About Strongwomen?

There’s a lot of terrible people online, who’ll go ‘oh, you look like a man’ or ‘you look disgusting’, but for me Strongwoman has been nothing but a positive; my mental health is better, and my physical health is better. It makes me feel empowered and gives me a sense of satisfaction and achievement.

When you feel more confident in yourself it carries over into your personal life and your relationships and your work. There’s just so much awesomeness from doing Strongwoman. I believe lifting helps every aspect of your life.

What’s on your gym playlist?

I’m in love with Eurodance remixes of pop songs and ballads. Last time at World’s Strongest Woman I was just wandering around listening to the remix of Total Eclipse of the Heart on repeat.

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Tags: Exercise Type > Strongman ; Misc > Lifestyle