MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – At 5’2 and 118 lbs, powerlifting isn’t likely the first sport you’d associate with amateur athlete, Jessica Quijano. But this 33-year-old, who can deadlift more than twice her body weight, would quickly convince you once she steps up to the barbell. “A lot of people are shocked. They see me as this tiny girl until they hear what my lifts are, and are usually impressed,” she says.

It’s no wonder Jess was drawn to such a demanding sport. Working professionally as a police officer, she’s faced plenty of tough situations. Including a high-speed chase last Fall that resulted in her fourth concussion – and a pause on her powerlifting competition plans.

Like most athletes, Jess was already enduring challenges in 2020 preparing for potential meets because of gym closures amidst the pandemic. During warmer months, she could do some strength and mobility training outdoors, but without a barbell or squat rack, she couldn’t focus on the three main lifts: deadlift, squat, and bench press. After the stress of the car accident, she had no choice but to shift gears with her goals entirely and focus on recovery.

A few weeks following, Jess found out she was pregnant with her first child, who she and her partner (movement coach, Oskar Gut), are expecting in June. “That definitely changed a lot of things for me! My goal is to compete in another powerlifting competition six months after I give birth (if covid restrictions permit),” she says.

Prior to the pandemic (and pregnancy), Jess trained four to five times per week, under the guidance of her strength and conditioning coach, PK Mills – a Canadian powerlifting champion, international medalist, and co-founder of Strong-Athlete. Her training program was designed to help perfect her lifting technique and strength capacity, while incorporating additional exercises and mobility work.

Jess says she was inspired to try powerlifting after hearing Coach PK talk about his experience getting into the sport at the Strong Athlete Summit in 2018. “I saw the passion he had when speaking about powerlifting and I thought to myself, I should try it! I always wondered how strong I was. I was curious to see what my one rep max would be. So, that’s when I began training with him.”

She’s been hooked ever since. “There’s something about powerlifting,” she says, “that makes you feel dominant when you complete a lift.”

For Jess, improving her mental game is just as important as the strength gains she’s made. She says, “When you look at the barbell and how many plates are on it, it’s intimidating. You tend to psych yourself out, think you’re not capable of completing the lift, and then, you surprise yourself. Your mental game is in check and you complete the lift! It’s a great feeling!”

Jess started working on her athletic mindset with high-performance coach and co-founder of Strong-Athlete, Gaetan Boutin, in 2015, after initially seeing him for rehabilitation following a boxing injury. “It has helped me grow as a person so much. I didn’t realize the importance of having a strong mindset when it came to sports,” she says. Jess has learned a lot about resilience, hard work, and determination when it comes to powerlifting. “In the beginning, it all seemed impossible. Somewhere along the way, lifting 300lbs didn’t seem all that scary anymore,” she says.

Seeing other women, like 25x world record holding powerlifter Dr. Stephanie Cohen, encourages Jess to keep pushing. She hopes to be a role model for others who think they can’t compete. She’s already inspired her little brother – they participated at the same meet (in different categories), prior to the pandemic. “My family was surprised that I could lift so much,” Jess says.

Improving her strength has also come in handy as a first responder. “I might not be the biggest officer, but strength definitely helps out.”

Jess says her physique has changed a lot since getting into powerlifting. “I’ve built more muscle and definition, and it’s encouraged me to eat better – fuel my body with nutritious food and less junk!” Working shifts can make it difficult to maintain optimal health and well-being. Jess says, “Any exercise is great for stress relief, but I find that when I’m at the gym attempting a lift, I’m in my own world, focused. I blast the music in my headphones and get into the zone. I forget about my worries outside of that moment and strictly focus on that lift.”

At 26 weeks and counting, this mom-to-be is watching her body change again – in new ways. Although she’s had to put regular training and competition on hold, Jess is maintaining healthy movement and nutrition so she’s ready to welcome baby in a few months, and hopefully, get back into the sport she loves, as planned.

With pregnancy, the pandemic, and policing, Jess knows she’s bound to encounter more challenges along the way to achieving her athletic goals. With the right mindset though, she’s confident she can keep pushing past them. “It’s an amazing feeling when you realize what you’re capable of.”

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