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From a spinal injury… to the world stage

In 2016, a wrong move at the gym changed the course of my life.

While doing abdominal exercises, one of my lumbar vertebrae slipped forward.

The pain was so intense I could barely walk. I went through six months of therapy. I had to stop training — but I never gave up on myself.

I kept working, asking my boss not to assign me anything heavy.

The doctor said, “If it doesn’t improve, we’ll have to operate.”

And I said firmly:

“Don’t tell me that. Tell me what to do — and I’ll do it.”

And that’s exactly what I did. No weights. Just discipline, recovery, and faith.

A year later, already pain-free, I accompanied some Mexican friends to a bench press world championship in Killeen, Texas. Watching them compete stirred something in me.

“Dorita, you can still bench without risking your spine,” they told me.

Jessy, a coach and friend, offered to train me carefully:

“You’re recovered. You still have so much to give. Train for next year’s championship in Canada.”

So I did.

I trained cautiously and, in 2017, won second place in Equipped Bench Press at that competition in Canada.

In 2018, I went to my last national competition representing Mexico.

It was my farewell.

That same year, I had already applied for U.S. citizenship.

I hugged my friends and said with all my heart:

“Thank you. This is goodbye. I’ve been invited to my first U.S. Nationals.”

And so, in 2018, as a U.S. resident, I went to Scranton, Pennsylvania…

and won.

First place in both Raw and Equipped Bench Press.

Since then, I’ve proudly been part of the USA National Team.

My first world championship with Team USA was in Japan —

I returned with two silver medals, lifting 65 kg Raw and 75 kg Equipped.

In 2021, while reviewing records with my husband, I noticed something:

the world bench press record in my category was 69 kg,

and I was already lifting well above that.

So we asked ourselves:

“Why not break the world record?”

I spoke with my coach and asked for a custom plan —

lighter on squat and deadlift, focused on one goal:

break the world bench press record in Canada.

I trained. I competed.

And I did it on my very first attempt:

70 kg, setting a new world record.

Then I kept going:

— Second attempt: 75 kg

— Third attempt: 77.5 kg

That day I won gold in Bench Press, plus

— 80 kg squat

— 110 kg deadlift

— Total: 267.5 kg, finishing 5th overall.

Since then, I’ve been invited to world championships every year.

I haven’t always gone — time and finances are real obstacles —

but that hasn’t stopped me.

I proudly represented Team USA at international events, including the Cayman Islands and most recently in Scottsdale, Arizona.

There, I won gold in every lift, maintained my world record,

and raised my total to 270 kg, setting a new NAPF record.

And this year, 2025, I went even further:

— Squat: 80 kg

— Bench Press: 78.5 kg (National Record and World Record attempt)

— Deadlift: 115 kg

— Total: 273.5 kg

I earned a gold medal, broke two national records, and received the invitation to the World Championship in South Africa.

Sadly, I won’t attend.

The cost, the time, the two-day journey each way —

it’s too much right now.

But I don’t feel defeated.

Because I’m still here. Still standing.

Still getting stronger.

Still lifting — with love, passion, and purpose.

This story doesn’t end here.

It’s a message to every woman who still has dreams to fulfill:

It’s never too late.

Never too small.

Never impossible.

No limits, no time, no age.

My favorite lift, deadlift 115 kg 253 pounds. my total was 273 kg 600.6 pounds. Master 3, 68 years old this year and 57 kg category. Won a gold medal, get an invitation to be part of the USA Team in South Africa World Championship.

Part of my Powerlifting story ,a lot more to say about bench press lift .

no limits, no tine, no age.

DORA JUSTICE