New Zealand's strongest woman feels "very happy" after a record-best placing at the world championships earlier this month.
Shayna Wirihana travelled to West Virginia for the Official Strongman Games, which took place between December 1 and December 3.
Able to dead lift more than 270kg, Wirihana is already New Zealand's strongest woman — and this year, she hoped to make it on the podium on the world stage.
After three days of gruelling competition, Tapara finished the weekend placing sixth — making her the sixth strongest woman in the world.
"I'm still trying to have it settle in my mind," she told 1News.
"To be honest, it's such a crazy feeling. I'm very happy."
Over three days, Wirihana competed in multiple events in the women's open division, lifting over 97kg in the overhead press and 56kg in the overhead dumbbell press.
She said the competition was "fierce".
"It was fierce because I tell you, man. I was up against a lady who was the world's strongest woman, Rebecca Roberts. She won it. So now she's two times the strongest woman.
"I tell you, when I first looked at these weights, I go, 's***, am I actually going to be able to lift these weights?'
"Thankfully, I could. It took a lot of training but I did it."
She said having her mother and fiancé watching was a massive contribution to her performance.
"Having the mental pressure of competing on a world stage is tough, so just having your mum and fiancé there calms you and prepares you for the storm."
Wirihana told 1News that the biggest challenge when training for an event isn't lifting the weights but finding them.
"You can't just buy from like Elite Fitness or Torpedo 7," she joked.
"You're trying to train under really odd objects that not everyone has, but you have to try and either buy it or try and implement it yourself."
She said she's always wanted to represent New Zealand on the world stage and said the country has a growing reputation on the scene.
"New Zealand is getting known now," she said.
"New Zealand's strongest man, Matt Ragg, who made a statement last year at the official games where he came third."
Wirihana aims to continue improving — to get on the podium next year.
"They get behind all our skills and go, 'everyone deserves to be on that podium'.
"What's so great about the sport is that if all women get behind other women, they inspire and push each other to be their absolute best.
"Like the world's strongest woman said: Everyone will have a touch of the podium at some stage."
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