A WEIGHT OFF…
When Emily Westray deadlifts 130kg, the last thing she worries about is taking the strain
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POWERLIFTER Emily Westray vividly remembers the first time she wet herself in the gym.
Far from being embarrassed, she saw her puddle as a triumph – proof she was doing something right.
“I can’t lie, it felt like a rite of passage,” explains Emily, 27. “It meant that I’d really pushed myself to my limit and I was proud of that.”
The first time the civil servant from Sheffield peed when powerlifting was when she squatted over 100kg.
“I was delighted – I knew I’d got the technique right and I’d learnt to brace properly in my squat.
“I did have one of the guys at our gym spotting me [assisting with the lift], and he had no shoes on.
“I’ve got it on video and it’s me peeing on his feet. He laughed it off, bless him.”
Emily is currently training for the European Bench Press Championships in Malta, where she hopes to represent Team GB for the first time.
Like most powerlifters, she has to self-fund expenses like accommodation, travel and food for competitions.
Although perfectly healthy, with no bladder-weakness issues, athletes like Emily can be three times as likely to leak as women who do little or no exercise. It’s just the intra-abdominal force bearing down on their pelvic floors.
“You’re creating so much pressure in your core from this weight on you,” she says, “it basically forces your pelvic floor to fail.”
But there’s no shame in leaking, whatever the reasons.
Plus, there are things you can do, including strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with exercises like Kegels, modifying exercise routines and, in some cases, seeking medical advice.
“I don’t leak at other times. I have a good pelvic floor. Do your Kegels, girls. You can do them anywhere,” says Emily.
“It’s a common misconception that it’s only older women or women who’ve had kids, but I’m in my twenties – I’ve not had any children.”
Now, with Britain gearing up for an awesome summer of women’s sport, from the Euros to the Rugby World Cup, the message TENA and athletes like Emily want to share is not to let a bit of wee put you off joining in the fun.
One in two women who experience bladder leaks feel reluctant to do physical activity – and one in three avoid sports completely.
“I pee all the time. We all do. Even while competing, you’ll see girls peeing on the floor.
“They disinfect between every lifter and you just carry on. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and doesn’t stop anyone doing the sport they love.”
Emily began lifting just three years ago and is already a Commonwealth bench press champion.
At 5ft 3in and under 52kg, she can bench press 75kg, squat 120kg and deadlift 130kg, so a little leakage is perhaps unsurprising.
“I wear TENA pads when I’m training,” she says, “because it’s annoying walking around during a session in wet leggings.”
TENA has discreet underwear and pads to deal with bladder weakness.
Its Silhouette pants, in black and cream, are a Product of the Year winner for 2025. They look and feel like regular underwear, offering total protection and comfort.
Emily adds: “Lifting is my life. So if you want to do sport, go for it. A bit of wee is nothing.”
Always seek medical advice from a GP or pelvic health specialist
TENA helps you stay secure, dry and odour-free thanks to discreet pads, washable absorbent underwear, and single-use pants for bladder leakage.
GO HARD Emily hopes to represent Team GB this September in Malta
Athletes can be three times as likely to leak as women who do little or no exercise
TOUGH STUFF At 5ft 3in and under 52kg, Emily can bench press 75kg
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