| | | To look at them, you | | | | | stopped when the twins | | | | | between us when we were |
| | | wouldn't think that | | | 55 | | started winning competitions… | | | 100 | | competing against each other,’ |
| | | Laura and Amanda | | 5 | | | Aged just 10 and only two | | | | | says Amanda, ‘it was just |
| | | Fisher are Britain's strongest | | | | | weeks into their training, the | | | | | whoever did better on the day |
| | | schoolgirls! But at the age | | | | | twins entered their first | | | | | and we were always pleased |
| | | of 14, the twins are capable | | | | | competition, and everyone was | | | | | for each other. But now it’s |
| | | of lifting more than their | | | 60 | | amazed when Laura took first | | | 105 | | nice to both get first prizes and |
| | | own body weight! | | | | | and Amanda second place. And | | | | | we’re relieved not to have to |
| | | | | | | | that was to be the pattern over | | | | | compete against each other.’ |
1 | | | Laura and Amanda first | | | | | the next two years as the girls | | 9 | | | To keep at the top of their |
| | | became involved in | | | | | swept aside all competition, | | | | | sport the girls have to stick to a |
| | | weightlifting four years ago | | | 65 | | coming first and second in | | | 110 | | strict training schedule, which |
| | | after they watched a | | | | | every event they entered. ‘We | | | | | they have to fit around their |
| 5 | | demonstration at a local youth | | | | | were terrified at first because | | | | | school work. But surprisingly |
| | | club. It was then that they | | | | | we didn’t know what to | | | | | enough, neither Laura nor |
| | | realised there was more to it | | | | | expect,’ says Laura. ‘But once | | | | | Amanda has to follow a strict |
| | | than just muscles. ‘We used to | | | | | |
| | | see weightlifting on TV and not | | | | |
| 10 | | think much of it,’ says Laura, | | | | |
| | | ‘but when we saw the | | | | |
| | | demonstration we realised | | | | |
| | | there was actually a lot of skill | | | | |
| | | involved.’ | | | | |
2 | 15 | | After the demonstration | | | | |
| | | Laura, Amanda and their | | | | |
| | | friends were invited to have a | | | | |
| | | go at lifting some weights | | | | |
| | | themselves. ‘I wasn’t too keen | | | | |
| 20 | | at first,’ admits Laura, ‘but | | | | |
| | | everyone else was having a go, | | | | |
| | | so eventually I did too. I was | | | | |
| | | shocked when I lifted 20kgs | | | | |
| | | straightaway!’ The coach | | | | |
| 25 | | asked if Laura had lifted | | | 70 | | you get on the stage you just | | | 115 | | diet. ‘I eat anything and |
| | | weights before. ‘I hadn’t, but | | | | | concentrate on what you’re | | | | | everything,’ admits Laura - and |
| | | he told me that I looked like a | | | | | doing and the fear soon | | | | | apart from their super-strength |
| | | natural,’ Laura recalls. | | | | | disappears.’ | | | | | they are just like other 14-year- |
3 | | | Recognising that they | | 6 | | | The fact that the girls are | | | | | old girls. ‘We both have |
| 30 | | obviously had talent, the twins | | | 75 | | twins caused some problems | | | 120 | | boyfriends and we like going to |
| | | were keen to do more | | | | | at first. ‘Everybody made a fuss | | | | | parties,’ Amanda says, ‘and like |
| | | weightlifting, but, like their | | | | | because they thought the | | | | | most other teenagers, we have |
| | | mum, they were initially | | | | | same girl was being given two | | | | | to hang around the streets |
| | | worried about what would | | | | | goes at lifting!’ laughs Laura. | | | | | when we’re not at the gym |
| 35 | | happen to their bodies. ‘We | | 7 | 80 | | The highlight of the girls’ | | | 125 | | because there isn’t much else |
| | | both think that women body | | | | | sporting careers came last year | | | | | to do!’ |
| | | builders look awful,’ says | | | | | when Amanda won the | | 10 | | | When it comes to boys, |
| | | Laura, ‘and it was only after | | | | | national schoolgirls’ | | | | | most of them don’t believe the |
| | | people explained that you don’t | | | | | competition and Laura came a | | | | | twins when they say they are |
| 40 | | develop big muscles in | | | 85 | | close second. But then shortly | | | 130 | | weightlifters. ‘I think that’s |
| | | weightlifting that we decided | | | | | afterwards the girls were split | | | | | because we’re girls and |
| | | to give it a go.’ | | | | | into different categories. | | | | | haven’t got huge muscles. |
4 | | | But the initial worry about | | | | | Although both are just over 5ft | | | | | Some laugh when we tell them |
| | | their bodies was nothing | | | | | 4ins tall, Laura is 1kg heavier | | | | | what we do and think it’s a |
| 45 | | compared to the prejudice the | | | 90 | | than Amanda and now | | | 135 | | joke, but at least it gets a |
| | | girls had to deal with at school. | | | | | competes in the 60kgs-andover | | | | | reaction. Anyway, as soon as |
| | | ‘There were certain teachers | | | | | class, while Amanda is in | | | | | they see our trophies it sinks in |
| | | who tried to stop us | | | | | the 59kgs-and-under class. | | | | | that we’re serious and they |
| | | weightlifting,’ Amanda recalls. | | 8 | | | Being in different classes | | | | | wouldn’t dare tease us about it |
| 50 | | ‘They said it wasn’t a sport for | | | 95 | | means that the girls now come | | | 140 | | because they realise we’re |
| | | the female sex and tried all | | | | | home from competitions with | | | | | stronger than them!’ |
| | | sorts of things to make us | | | | | even more first-prize trophies! | | | | | |
| | | stop.’ But the disapproval soon | | | | | ‘There was never any jealousy | | | | | ‘MIZZ’,March 27, 1996 |