“I love having the ultimate excuse to get stronger.”
CSSC’s Elite Sponsorship Fund supported Cat Shamel to reach the World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championship in Drammen, where she grabbed Bronze for Team GB.
Cat Shamel headed for Norway with the aim of a PB and breaking the British bench record of 88kg but came close with an impressive 85kg lift and a well-deserved Bronze medal, yet another incredible success on her journey.
Cat’s journey to Norway is a remarkable one, inspired by watching Sarah Connor do pull-ups in Terminator 2, she has overcome a adversity at almost every stage, and is now a world-class masters powerlifter.
At the age of 39, Cat moved from weightlifting to powerlifting, having spotted some other powerlifters in her gym who “looked like they were having fun”. Cat went from knowing how to squat and how to deadlift, but having never benched, in a period of around four months to competing in a West-Midlands regional competition, followed by selection for the Team GB Masters.
As impressive as Cat’s physical fitness is, her mental strength to overcome some of the adversity she has faced is even more remarkable. Diagnosed with macular degeneration five years ago, Cat has lost sight in her right eye but eye injections are helping her keep her vision, coupled with undergoing a hysterectomy and medical menopause. Just three months later she was back in the gym, and collected her first victory just only months later.
Cat applied for the CSSC Elite Sponsorship Fund in March 2025 and received funding to support her with equipment and training which secured her appearance at the World Classic & Equipped Bench World Championship in Norway. Cat was thrilled to secure a Bronze medal:
“You’re never too old to follow your dreams. It was such an honour to be selected to be part of the GB Team for this year’s World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championship and even better to return home with a medal. I love having the ultimate excuse to get stronger. Thank you CSSC for the funding.”
Funding with CSSC
The CSSC Elite Sponsorship Fund is available to current CSSC members with at least year’s membership, and is sponsored by CSSC community lottery.