Canberra woman Jessica Cameron, 40, is an incredibly impressive person – but her at-home gym setup might even be slightly more impressive.

Innocently starting CrossFit in the early 2010s has led Jess through a decade of strength training, gaining a community and a passion, and most recently, a Guiness World Record. 

Breaking the record for the heaviest sumo deadlift in 60 seconds (female), Jess lifted a massive 4935kg, beating the previous holders record by over 900kg.

More importantly, she raised over $22,000 for Integra Service Dogs Australia while doing it.

Instead of having a ‘naughty 40’ party or buying herself a sportscar for her birthday in Feburary, Jess says she decided to break a world record, but insisted she use the achievement to “actually do good”.

“I encountered Integra a few years ago through my work in Defence, and I love their dogs, particularly the labs. I also have a connection with veterans – my husband’s ex-navy and we have friends who have served and still do,” Jess says.

“I’ve worked with veterans as well and know people who have experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health challenges, and I also have had my own mental health challenges that I’ve overcome, which is actually what led me to my strength training. It was kind of a meant to be type of thing.”

After struggling with an eating disorder, and overexercising while undereating, Jess was reluctant to begin physical exercise because she “was scared I was going to overload and go down a bad path again”.

But strength training and being a part of her newfound community helped Jess move past her fears, and she hasn’t looked back.

“I realised I was very weak,” laughs Jess, “so I focused on my powerlifting for a few years and then I also got into strongman training a few years ago.

“Everyone is on their own journey in how they recover, and how they get back to a good state of mental and psychical health, but I know surrounding myself with other people was really important.

The feeling of powerlifting is almost indescribable for Jess, and she thrives in the competition environments. She says the culmination of hard work across weeks and months, all leading up to a show or competition, is an amazing feeling. But she accepts it isn’t for everyone.

Being an official Guinness World Record holder hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but she says with a smile, maybe that will change when her free certificate she ordered online arrives.

“It was a really surreal experience on the day, and it’s just been really amazing seeing more and more people sharing the articles and donating,” says Jess.

“People have been getting in contact with me who have a service dog themselves and have been inspired to do something themselves. Paying it forward in a way.

“I know I shouldn’t say I’m surprised that people would get behind things like this, because I do for others, but to actually be in this position? It’s been so positive.”

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