Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 New York Air Guard Woman Powerlifts to Success By Jaclyn Lyons,
                109th Air Wing/Public Affairs
 SCOTIA, N.Y. - New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Sarah Chambers wasn’t in it for the recognition or to set records when she decided to try powerlifting. “My personal life wasn’t going as planned and it made me pivot. Instead of choosing a road where I could develop destructive habits, I chose to take my hurt and harness it towards the weight room,” Chambers said. “I didn’t realize I was kind of strong until I just decided to try it at the base gym.” Five years later, Chambers, a member of the 109th Airlift Wing based at Stratton Air National Guard Base, is ranked third nationally in powerlifting and first in New York State for her division. Chambers said a previous coworker who was a powerlifter asked if she had ever thought about trying it. “I said maybe I’ll try it out, and he gave me a template to follow to get started. I didn’t have a trainer or nutritionist or anything; I just looked up some videos and practiced over and over again,” she recalled. Chambers, a member of the Air Force for 19 years — 17 of them with the 109th — serves full time in knowledge operations in the communications flight. Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts. The squat is a deep knee bend where the lifter’s thighs must drop to or below parallel to the ground. The bench press requires the lifter to lie on their back and lift. The deadlift requires the lifter to raise the weight from the floor to hip level in one movement. Chambers’ competitive career began when she participated in a local competition and did well. She also started competing in United States Powerlifting Association contests and excelled in those. Chambers was ranked first in the submaster division  (ages 35-39) the past four years. In July, she became national champion in two divisions at the 2023 United States Powerlifting Association Drug Tested National Championships. Her classification in lifting landed her in the International Elite category, determined by how much weight you can lift compared to your body weight. Only a small percentage of powerlifters fall into this category. During that competition, Chambers was able to squat 237 lbs., bench 126.7 lbs. and deadlift 352.7 lbs., for a total weight of 716.5 lbs. She weighed 119.2 lbs. Chambers won the open 56kg division, open to competitors of any age, and the and submaster 56kg division, for ages 35-39. Chambers said she didn’t let the hard times she was going through get her off course. “I like to think of the squat as an analogy. The squat is this tremendously devastating lift because all of the weight is on you,” she said. “It feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You get down in the hole and there is a 2-3 second conversation you have with yourself, ‘Can I get this back up, or am I going to have to dump it?’ And the more times you go down into that spot, the more you are comfortable and confident,” she said. “I feel like, as people, we get into a lot of uncomfortable situations and we’re like, ‘Oh, this is scary.’ But the more times you put yourself out there and dig deep, it becomes comfortable,” Chambers said. “So it has helped me develop more of a belief in me and who I am as a person and dealing with life.” Next up for Chambers is a new challenge: bodybuilding. “I’ve been training for 10 weeks and it is a completely different sport and is challenging in different ways,” she said. “It is totally a mental game.“
 SHARE
 PRINT
  New York Air National Guard
 
 New York Air Guard Transports Special Operations Forces
 By Tech. Sgt. Madison Scaringe,
  New York Air Guard Members Recognized for Lifesaving Actions
 By Maj. Suzanne Jedrosko,
  Air National Guard Wings Participate in Agile Rage Exercise
 By Staff Sgt. Sean Madden,
  More
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • yesterday
 New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day Guard News • 2 days ago
 Tennessee Guard, Local Partners Practice Disaster Response Guard News • 2 days ago
 Air Guard Units Test Readiness at Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • 3 days ago
 2024 (160)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil