2008 Woodie Awards
Gold medalist uplifts students
Kenneth Huntley
Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: News
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The guest was Deborah L. Ferrell, sister of David Ferrell, director of Student Activities.
Ferrell is a power-lifting champion; she belongs to both the USA Power Lifting Federation and the International Power Lifting Federation.
Ferrell talked about the intensity in the competitions, how she would get so close and always end up in second place. Her primary competitor in the IPF had won 10 gold medals, while she had seven.
Ferrell always remained optimistic, and she finally won her gold medal.
"You want something bad enough, and you get it; it's sweet," Ferrell said.
In winning a gold medal, it all comes down to setting goals and determining to accomplish them, she explained.
"Once you set that goal, you can get it," she said. Many of Ferrell's dreams have been accomplished.
Ferrell is the only black female with a world record, and she has three. She accomplished this by breaking the world record of 330 pounds by lifting 407 pounds in the freestyle.
Ferrell started power lifting in 1994, and has traveled to many countries because of the competitions. She first traveled to Germany and lifted up to 370 pounds in that competition.
Ferrell was asked what her best experience was in her power-lifting competition.
"Nothing better than standing on that platform during the national anthem," she said.
Ferrell does not get paid for winning competitions; she gets a gold medal and self-gratification.
She was asked about if there was drug use or steroid use in the power-lifting organizations she belongs to, and she replied no, that the organizations are one hundred percent drug free.
Ferrell said that she is asthmatic, she has to turn in her steroid medication (that is okayed by her doctor) to her power-lifting organizations.
When asked if she had any advice for beginner power-lifters, she replied, "Everybody has to start somewhere, don't be hard on yourself. Learn a technique and learn a style, and don't forget to enjoy yourself."
She said that everybody assumes that you start out lifting weights; the reality is that you may or may not start out only lifting the bar.
Besides power-lifting, she has a degree in elementary education, and teaches children from elementary to high schools in Anchorage, Alaska, about power-lifting.
She currently resides in Alaska, and one day hopes to have kids and teach them about education and have sports in their lives.