Farhanna Farid

The first Singaporean to claim an Open world title, Farhanna Farid has spent the past four years redefining what is possible in powerlifting. Since breaking the Under-52kg deadlift world record for the first time at the 2022 IPF World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships, the former pharmacist has rewritten the mark 14 times, most recently lifting a staggering 220.5kg at the 2026 World Championships in Lithuania. Yet for Farhanna, the pursuit of strength has never been solely about the numbers on the barbell.

After years of competing almost non-stop, she is entering a new phase of her career—one defined less by relentless acceleration than by longevity. An injury after the 2025 World Games forced her to rethink the pace at which she trained and competed, teaching her that progress sometimes requires restraint as much as determination. “Holding back can be part of progress,” she says. “Everything has its time and place. If I’m really patient and I listen to my body … it will come.”

That philosophy now shapes her life both on and off the platform. Alongside competing, Farhanna coaches athletes through CoachbyMarc, serves on the executive committee of Powerlifting Singapore and, in 2026, she became Singapore's first female IPF Category 1 referee, the highest international officiating qualification in the sport. Experiencing powerlifting as an athlete, coach and referee has deepened her appreciation for the ecosystem required to grow the sport. “I feel like I've been given this privilege to do this sport and really dive deep into it,” she says. “It’s only right that I share the love for it.”

Farhanna still hopes to break more records, but her ambitions now reach beyond competition. She wants to build a lasting future for the sport, whether through mentoring new lifters, officiating at the highest level or one day opening a gym of her own. For aspiring athletes, her message is simple: “You don't need to feel ready to start something … being ready feels overrated. Sometimes you just need to take that first step.”