After finishing fourth in the car walk, second in the dumbbell lift and equal first in the deadlift (230kg), as well as winning the load and carry, Fifita held a half-point lead going into the final truck pull. <\/p>\n
She fired up to obliterate the field, becoming the only competitor to cover the 15m course to be crowned New Zealand\u2019s strongest woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still in shock,\u201d Fifita told the Herald. \u201cWho would have thought my first Nationals, I\u2019ll walk away with the title?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t my intention to take that first place because I knew these other girls had been there for years and they\u2019d been fighting for that title.\u201d <\/p>\n
Her journey into strongwoman began almost by chance. She had been an avid gym user for several years and was interested in strongwoman events but lacked confidence to give it a go.<\/p>\n
Kesa Fifita.<\/p>\n
That changed when one of the owners of BFT Airport Oaks mentioned the sport and she built up the courage to try it out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember the first day walking into the gym,\u201d Fifita said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was like, \u2018Man, I love this\u2019. I just found something that I love and then I just started training.\u201d <\/p>\n
Her regimen is intense, with cardio and personal training sessions early in the week before moving to heavy lifts with sandbag carries, deadlifts, yoke carries and truck pulls.<\/p>\n
Her training paid off in the truck pull. As other competitors struggled, Fifita wondered if she could do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was watching all the girls before me starting, I was like to myself, \u2018Oh my gosh, there\u2019s no way I can move that truck with the two cars on there\u2019,\u201d Fifita said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when I jumped on, the feeling of the adrenaline just in me, it was like, get to the end, touch that truck, finish it off.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still remember my coach telling me, \u2018Man, you better keep going, don\u2019t stop and say you\u2019re tired, you better finish it\u2019, and that just pushed me harder to get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her achievement was made even more special by her sacrifices, including balancing training with caring for her sick mother.<\/p>\n
Before leaving Auckland, Fifita\u2019s mother had even asked whether she could finish first, but she didn\u2019t believe.<\/p>\n
When she returned home with the trophy, her mother was as shocked as she was.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was like, \u2018What? Did you really, did you really come first?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, Fifita has the opportunity to take her rapid rise to the international stage.<\/p>\n
She will look to compete in events in Australia, with an eye on the 2027 Official Strongman Games.<\/p>\n
Fifita was full of nerves about competing, but after winning her first national title she is encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust give it a go and see where it takes you,\u201d Fifita said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI walked in as a nobody, I\u2019ll say, and then I walked out as New Zealand\u2019s strongest woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fif\u00adita fin\u00adished ahead of Ner\u00adisa Utailesolo (second) and Nime Tupuo (third).<\/p>\n