AT barely 150-centimetres (just under five feet) with a slight build, Liz Craven isn’t what most people expect an elite powerlifter to look like.

But the bubbly 38-year-old from Kambah soon proves appearances are deceptive when she lifts a barbell stacked with weights in excess of an eye-popping 280kg, in preparation for the World Powerlifting Championships held in Russia in June.

“People have this preconceived idea that I’m going to look like a man,” Liz laughs.

“Every time I go and see someone, they say: ‘I don’t believe you’re a powerlifter’. But really, the girls I compete against are all quite small. You don’t have to look like a man to lift heavy weight – I am under 52kg and I’ve lifted more than I have ever lifted before.”

Liz has come a long way since she began powerlifting only 18 months ago, just three months after the birth of her daughter Abigail.

“When I started out, I initially just aimed for the national competition,” she says.

“To qualify for the Australian team I had to make a total of 280kg over three lifts – deadlift, bench press and back squat – at the Oceania Powerlifting Championships last year. I made 283kg, and in the process broke the Oceania record for bench press at 52kg – lifting 66kg.”

Thanks to her results, Liz will have to make three different lifts – the back squat, the bench press and the dead lift at the world titles in Russia. She’s aiming for a total of at least 300kg, combining the best lift from each.

“I’m very nervous about it… but the idea that I’ll be standing there in front of a big crowd, and the competitive nature of it, really motivates me,” she says.

Liz began concentrating on powerlifting after her personal trainer said she had the “perfect build” for it.

“I was originally a personal trainer so I was already quite strong,” she says.

“Because I’m so short, it’s actually a good build for lifting as you can have great core strength.”

Liz says she can now lift more than her husband, Leon, who is also a powerlifter.

But she wasn’t always so athletic – “before I started personal training, I was an art nerd, and a terrible party girl,” she laughs.

“I never ever thought I could be representing my country in any sport, ever.”

Liz now juggles a rigorous training schedule and diet with her young daughter and teaching weekly crossfit classes.

“It can be hard, I often catch myself singing ‘The Wiggles’ while I’m working out,” she laughs.

“I train for two and a half hours three times a week and I’m on protein-only meals, no sugar, no salt and at least two litres of water each day.”

Currently ranked fourth in Australia, Liz hopes her performance at the world championships can take her to the top seven in the world.

“I love the sport, I love being strong,” she says.

“I love that it’s measurable – you have goals and if you are patient and you do your work, you are going to reach them.”