Gianna Webbe had double cause for celebration at last month’s UK and Ireland Streetlifting Championships in Basingstoke, England.

Not only did the 24-year-old Bermudian savour a maiden career win competing in the under 63kg division, she also set a new personal best and national record of 86.25kg in the weighted dip discipline.

Webbe is thrilled to have achieved the milestone, which she feels is a testament of her progress in the sport.

“It shows the improvement that I am making year on year in regards to competition and how I handle the pressure, and a national record is kind of the good cherry on top of everything I guess,” Webbe told The Royal Gazette.

The personal trainer’s success did not come as much of a surprise to her.

“Honestly, it’s kind of where I want to be. I kind of want to keep hitting those numbers and setting new goals in the sport,” she said.

“It’s on the list and I am proud of it, but I hope to surpass that number at more competitions. This is not the end goal, but it’s kind of a stepping stone in that way.”

Streetlifting is a strength sport that focuses on four key movements: the muscle-up, pull-up or chin-up, weighted dip and squat.

Similar to powerlifting in its competitive format, streetlifting challenges athletes to achieve their one-rep max in each of these exercises.

The sport originated in Russia but has since spread to Europe and the United States, with slight variations in competition rules across regions.

The appeal of streetlifting lies in its accessibility and the balanced full-body strength it develops.

Unlike traditional weightlifting that requires extensive equipment, streetlifting can be practised with minimal gear, making it an attractive option for athletes looking to build impressive functional strength.

Webbe initially participated in gymnastics before transitioning to streetlifting.

“I come from a gymnastics background and wanted to do a new sport, and kind of gravitated towards callisthenics,” she said.

“I entered a pull-up and dip competition on the whim and got involved in streetlifting, and I’ve just been doing that ever since.

“That’s been about three years and who doesn’t love to do a good pull-up now and then, especially with some added weight?

“I think it has a fundamental challenge and I get to push myself further. The people who introduced me to the sport have been very helpful on my journey in the sport.”