Powerlifting World Champion Trains in Gosport
The UK's Daily Echo spotlights Ellie Steel, a world champion powerlifter who trains in Gosport, Hampshire. Steel's achievements underline the continuing growth and accessibility of the sport, with local lifters reaching the highest levels of competition. The article highlights her commitment to training and her rise through the ranks as inspiration for both aspiring and seasoned lifters.
Ellie Steel secured her most significant titles to date in 2025, becoming the reigning Powerlifting World Champion and European Bench Press Champion in the 57kg category. This success followed a remarkable return to elite competition after giving birth to her son in June 2023. Her journey back to the top was swift, capturing a British title in January 2024 just three months after resuming her training. Steel's comeback underscores a rapid rise in women's powerlifting; she notes that when she started, she was often the only woman in the gym, whereas now women sometimes outnumber men. Steel trains under the guidance of coach Dean Bowring in Gosport. She has been a member of the Great Britain powerlifting team for a decade, accumulating 15 British titles across various disciplines including classic and equipped powerlifting. Previously a competitive diver, Steel transitioned to powerlifting while at the University of Birmingham. An accident in diving prompted the change, and she was eventually introduced to powerlifting, a sport better suited to her five-foot frame than the strongwoman events she initially tried. Her achievements have placed her at the pinnacle of the sport, qualifying her for The World Games, considered the equivalent of the Olympics for powerlifting. To be invited, an athlete must already be a world champion.
