This Teen Powerlifted Her Way Through Bullying

Brut India

"My classmates were the reason why I had to leave school." Bullied, taunted, and body-shamed, this teenage powerlifter didn't let it hold her back.  TW: Bullying

Transcript

00:00My classmates were the reason why I had to leave the school.

00:13I do powerlifting. It is my passion and I'm 16 years old.

00:22I have been bullied since I was 11.

00:25I was completely ignored in class just because I was being counseled.

00:33They would just comment on my body and say hurtful things.

00:45I have always been like this. I have always been a chubbier kid.

00:48I was just 13 years old when I started powerlifting.

01:00But things got worse when I told them about powerlifting.

01:07Powerlifting? You are in sports? Have you seen yourself?

01:11You are so overweight, how can you play sports?

01:14There is a myth in India that if you are overweight you cannot do sports.

01:18They body shamed me.

01:21They would literally abuse me. I don't think I should say the things that they have said.

01:34I was a really introverted kind of personality in my school.

01:39I used to stay quiet and not say much.

01:44I think that's what gave them the power.

01:48To say whatever to me because they knew I'm not going to say anything.

01:59It was not my fault.

02:01If my body looks like this then what is my fault?

02:04I look like this, it is not my fault.

02:07That period was really tough for me.

02:09Mentally I was not stable at that time.

02:11I had anxiety issues and I just kept crying.

02:15That was my life at that time.

02:19My classmates used to think that I'm crazy or something.

02:22There is something wrong with me.

02:24Because there is a myth in India that if you go to a counsellor to get yourself treated,

02:29then something is wrong with me.

02:31You are mad.

02:33And that's not the case.

02:49I was just so pressurized that I had to tell my parents that I cannot do this anymore.

02:55This is way too much for me.

02:57I cannot handle the things that are happening to me in my school.

03:01When someone reaches to the top, everyone tries to pull their leg.

03:07My classmates were the reason why I had to leave the school.

03:18The first state level I played, I scored 3 gold medals in it.

03:35I have played 5 state levels and 1 national.

03:48If you ask me in total, I have lifted 250 kgs.

03:53I love deadlifting. It is literally my favourite.

03:56So I was like, I have to do this.

03:59I would be honoured to represent India.

04:02It is my biggest dream.

04:07Raise your voice.

04:09It is very important.

04:11I don't understand what I did at that time to deserve all that.

04:15You don't even know how much it can harm and hamper your mental health.

04:21It can destroy you completely.

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