S1E85 - Sobriety, World Records & Fighting for Women's Sports with Powerlifter April Hutchinson

Pursuit of Gold with Laura Wilkinson

This week, Laura is joined by the remarkable April Hutchinson, reigning North American Deadlift record holder in the domain of powerlifting, who shares her inspiring tale of resilience that has led to her ascending to the global stage in a remarkably short time span. Utilizing powerlifting as a catalyst to conquer addiction and mental health challenges, April has also emerged as a vocal advocate for women's rights in sports. Today, she candidly addresses the complexities of competing against male athletes, the significance of providing a platform for women's voices, and the need to preserve the integrity of women's sports.

With Laura, April explores the controversies arising from the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, and highlights the importance of standing up for women's rights and equitable competition, even in the face of opposition. Their discussion also delves into the impact of transgender athletes on women's sports, the differentiation between competition categories, and the empowerment of athletes to advocate for change. April goes on to recount her own experiences competing against male athletes, and her aspirations for gold in future competitions. With April's journey as the backdrop, today’s episode fosters a compelling dialogue about the healing power of sports, gender equity, and the unwavering spirit of athletes dedicated to preserving the integrity of women's athletics.

In more great news, Laura is reintroducing her transformative program, Confident Competitor, which is designed to empower athletes to enhance their mental game, improve performance, and rise to challenges. Be sure to check out this comprehensive online program which offers 19 lessons on mindset, mental game, and performance skills, alongside practical activities, bonuses, and group coaching to equip athletes with the tools for success.

Episode Highlights:

• April's journey from addiction to triumph and sobriety
• Powerlifting as a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment
• Competing against male athletes and advocating for women's rights
• The story of the biological male going by the name Anne Andres
• Powerlifting's synergy with mental health and physical empowerment
• April's training routine and aspirations for future competitions
• Navigating transgender athletes' impact on women's sports
• Advocacy for equity and women's rights amidst challenges and opposition

Quotes:

• "A lot of women are silenced and feel silenced... April is leading the charge, hoping to inspire courage in others to speak up as well."
• "COVID was so horrible for probably 90% of people, but for me, it was actually my blessing because I got sober a couple of months prior."
• "I want to work on my squat and I want to work on my bench... I want to just keep getting better and better and better."
• "In 2026, the Commonwealth Games will be in Australia, so I want to go there and sweep up all the records in the Commonwealth Games."
• "The first step we need to do is obviously just educate people, right? I mean, when I first started this, people would call me a bigot or transphobic, right?”
• "We need to fight for girls in sports, our future generations."
• "If you stick up for fairness and truth, you can have a great sleep at night."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Confident Competitor
• Grab the Top 10 Mental Skills Guide!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with April:

• I Stand With April
• April's Instagram
• April's Twitter