Clearwater resident Amanda Lawrence pulls some impressive weight. So impressive in fact, this summer she won the International Powerlifting Federation World Championship in Helsingborg, Sweden, setting world records in squat at 535 pounds and deadlift at 556 pounds.

She was also named ‘Champion of Champions,’ which goes to the best all-around female lifter from all weight classes.

The most incredible part of it all is that 22-year-old Lawrence has only been powerlifting for three and a half years. 

“People train a lifetime for this,” she said. “For me there’s plenty of years to come.”

Even with time ahead of her, Lawrence has already been named ‘the strongest female in the world that has been drug tested.’ She has never taken steroids.

“To be honest, it was actually a bigger honor to be named the strongest female in the world than winning the championships,” she said.

In 2016 Lawrence was going to the gym, watching YouTube videos and doing bodybuilding workouts to lose weight while she was going to college for biomedical sciences. A friend noticed how naturally strong she was and told her about an upcoming powerlifting meet he was doing.

She knew nothing about the sport and had never trained in the movements, but decided, why not? Her first meet was in June 2016 at the Twin Ports Raw Open in Duluth, where she broke the American Junior squat record.

Although Lawrence now holds numerous titles and state and U.S. records, this was her first time at the World Championship, where she competed for the USA team in the 185 pound weight class.

“It’s like the Olympics of powerlifting,” she said.

Powerlifting isn’t represented as a sport in the actual Olympics, so when the U.S. head weightlifting coach saw her compete in person, she attempted to convince Lawrence to switch over to weightlifting, which is represented, so she could compete.

“I pondered it, but I think weight lifting is more risky so I turned it down,” she said.

Lawrence doesn’t plan to sit idly by after winning her world championships. 

“I’m going to keep training and getting better so I can retain my championship,” she said. “And eventually break my own records.”

Currently Lawrence’s only true competition is Daniella Melo, who set a world record for the bench at the World Championship. In the past she has always taken second place to Melo, but Melo took two months off from training which Lawrence used to her advantage.

“I was training super hard,” said Lawrence. “Those two months gave me the time I needed.”

Along with retaining her title, Lawrence’s future goals are to coach others in powerlifting and begin a career in physical therapy.

She currently trains at Lions Fitness in St. Cloud, where she squats two days a week, deadlifts two days, and benches up to four. Her next competition is in October at Raw Nationals outside of Chicago.