Despite initial doubts – fuelled by comparing herself to others, including a friend who was a world champion, and a fear of getting injured – Delyth reminded herself that strength is built gradually, and she quickly fell in love with the discipline. “What started as a physical challenge became something much deeper,” she says. “Powerlifting gave me a way to process and work through personal trauma – it became a form of therapy, a space where I could rebuild not just my strength, but my sense of self.” The sport has shaped her mentally and emotionally, too. “That growth has carried over into every part of my life, including my work as a nurse. Powerlifting has been transformative for me. I just needed a little encouragement and a willingness to take that first step.”
Strength that supports her work
As her training progressed and her lifts grew heavier, so did her enthusiasm for competing. Powerlifting evolved into a vital outlet for her mental wellbeing, offering balance and relief from the intense demands of her role as a senior staff nurse and team leader on a busy medical ward. “I've worked in medicine for 20 years,” she says. “I love the mix of challenges that nursing brings. It's not just a job. It's a privilege to be there for people, especially when they’re at their most vulnerable.”
Over time, Delyth came to see just how deeply the sport was shaping her professional life. “On a physical level, the strength and conditioning I’ve built through training helps me meet the demands of a job that can be incredibly intense – whether it’s assisting with patient mobility, spending long shifts on my feet, or responding quickly in high‑pressure situations.” Mentally, powerlifting has taught her discipline, focus and resilience. The consistency, patience and determination required in training translate directly into her nursing practice. “It’s also given me a healthy outlet for stress, which helps me stay grounded and emotionally available for my patients,” she says.
Photo credits: White Lights Media
A lift when she needed it most
Powerlifting also became a crucial buffer against professional burnout. Working on a busy NHS medical ward with 30 patients, Delyth recalls a particularly overwhelming period marked by severe staff shortages and relentless night shifts. “With increased frailty and more patients with dementia, there was never a quiet night shift,” she says. “It was physically, emotionally and mentally demanding.”
In the midst of this pressure, Delyth received an invitation to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Championships in South Africa. With her colleagues’ support in arranging annual leave, she was able to go. The trip proved transformative: she won the title of Commonwealth Champion and spent the rest of the week coaching, helping Team Wales secure top places in several events. The experience left her re‑energised and ready to face the challenges waiting back home. “It was uplifting and life‑changing. I came back a different person, ready to face work and deal with the issues we were experiencing.”
Delyth’s achievements extend to inspiring colleagues and patients, who often commend her strength and seek advice. “It’s a great conversation starter and it humanises me outside of my uniform,” she says. Delyth finds the support she gets from work is humbling: “You think it’s just a hobby, but people want to celebrate you”.
And her success has reminded Delyth of the power of setting goals and celebrating progress – something she carries into patient care by encouraging others in their own recovery journeys. She says, “Powerlifting and nursing might seem worlds apart, but for me, they’ve become deeply connected.”
The power of making time
Balancing the demands of nursing with training – while also raising her teenage son as a single mother – requires intention and planning, and Delyth has learned to use her shift pattern strategically to make space for both her responsibilities and her passions. “It’s challenging, but it’s important – and it’s not selfish,” she says. “My son is incredibly supportive, and I wouldn’t be pursuing this if I didn’t have his backing.”
She’s keenly aware of how challenging nursing can be, and she stresses how essential it is for staff to prioritise their own wellbeing by making time for hobbies. “We need an outlet,” she says. “Whether it’s lifting, running, knitting – anything. It makes you a happier, healthier person both at work and in life. Having a hobby refills you; you can’t pour from an empty glass. The structure keeps me grounded and gives me something to focus on and achieve, alongside the demands of nursing.”
Looking ahead, Delyth’s ambitions are as strong as her lifts. Building on her recent British and European titles and multiple Welsh records, she plans to compete widely in the coming years – with her sights set on winning a World Championship and attempting a British record. “People often feel relieved when ‘Nurse Delyth’ arrives at a competition!” she jokes.
Quick-fire questions
Favourite lift: bench press.
Pre-competition ritual: listening to uplifting, upbeat, powerful, feminine music – like Beyoncé and Britney Spears – and dancing my nerves away.
One word to describe how lifting makes you feel: happy.
During a member engagement visit to her workplace last summer, RCN President Bejoy Sebastian met Delyth and was struck by her journey and the energy she brings to her role. Reflecting on her story, he says: “Delyth challenges the outdated stereotypes of what a nurse should look like or be. Her story shows that nursing isn’t one‑dimensional – it’s a profession full of powerful, diverse individuals. The idea of care and power isn’t often paired together, but Delyth embodies both with remarkable authenticity. She proves that you can pursue your ambitions, excel in your passions and still be an exceptional, compassionate professional. Her journey is a reminder that nursing staff can be powerful in every part of their lives.”
