'School runs, dinner, the house, work. Everyone else comes first': Northern Ireland mum makes weightlifting comeback after 12 years

A Belfast mum has made an emotional return to competitive weightlifting, stepping back onto the platform 12 years after her last competition.

For Gemma Massey, the comeback represents far more than a return to the sport. After fracturing her back before the birth of her daughter and being left with ongoing nerve pain, she had no idea if she would ever lift competitively again.

But through grit, determination and the support of those around her, Gemma has worked her way back to the platform and proved to herself that the setback did not have to be the end of her weightlifting journey.

“That injury really knocked my confidence in what my body could do,” said Gemma, a Bowen therapist, massage therapist and personal trainer.

“For a long time I didn’t know if I’d get back to lifting properly again, never mind competing. But with the right team around me, and a bit of time and patience, you can get back things you thought were gone for good.”

Last weekend, Gemma returned to competition at The Outset Open, hosted by NI Weightlifting at Outset Gym on Hulls Lane in Lisburn.

It was her first competition in 12 years, having first stepped onto a competition platform 14 years ago. In the intervening years, she became a mum, built her own business and faced the challenge of recovering from a back injury which left her with persistent nerve pain down one side of her body.

As founder of Belfast-based strength and recovery studio Re-Balance You, Gemma says her return to competition was about more than lifting weights. As a mother and business owner, she also wanted to highlight how easily women can lose sight of themselves when children, work and everyday responsibilities take priority.

“Nobody really talks about how, when you become a mum, you kind of drop down the pecking order of your own life,” Gemma explained.

“School runs, dinner, the house, work. Everyone else comes first. Being a mum is an amazing job, but your priorities change, and it’s easy to lose track of yourself in the middle of it all.

“I wanted to show my kids that you can still do the things that feel a bit scary, even after setbacks, even when life has completely rearranged your priorities.”

Gemma credits her coaching team at GoLift Weightlifting Club, including coach Peter Stewart, as well as the ongoing support of Louise Murphy PT, with helping her prepare for her return to the platform.

“Louise believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Gemma continued. “Having the right people in your corner makes all the difference.”

Now back competing, Gemma hopes her story will resonate with other mums and anyone who has felt they have had to put their own goals on hold.

Her message is one of perseverance: setbacks can change your path, but they do not have to stop you from pursuing the things that matter.

“Progress is possible at any stage of life,”she added.