Champion weightlifter 'couldn't lift a tin of beans' six months ago

A teenager from Shetland has qualified for the Strongwoman World Championships just months after recovering from a serious arm injury and a chronic pain condition.

Lauri Siegal, who has just turned 17, will compete in Arizona, USA, after placing in the top 10 of her category - despite only taking up the sport late last year.

"Six months before, I wasn't even able to lift a tin of beans," she said.

The young athlete badly broke her arm in January 2025, leaving her unable to take part in any sport.

"As a keen rugby player, that was something I really struggled with," she said.

Her recovery was complicated by a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), which causes severe and long lasting pain.

"I had a very physically challenging nine months of rehab - it was hard," she said.

At one stage, her physical activity was extremely limited.

"The doctors told me at the most I could lift a can of food".

Before her injury, Lauri had watched strongwoman videos with her mother, Dawn, including clips of famous Scottish strongmen, Tom and Luke Stoltman.

"I remember thinking I would love to do that, but after I broke my arm it felt very far away," she said.

She was cleared to return to exercise in September.

She told BBC Scotland: "Literally a week later I was back playing rugby, I was straight back into tackles and rucks – which I think concerned my parents a bit.

"I couldn't stop thinking about trying weightlifting. I wanted to give it a go".

Lauri began training informally, attempting her first deadlifts that month.

At the end of 2025, the Stoltman brothers were visiting a gym in Shetland - a gym Lauri happened to be a member of.

There, they announced they were opening a gym in Invergordon as well as their plan to host a Strongman and woman competition.

They invited people to come along and participate in January.

Lauri debated whether to go along or not.

"I was really unsure, as I had never done anything like this before and I had only just recovered from my injury," she said.

"I finally decided to bite the bullet and go for it with only three weeks to prepare".

On the day, she was the only female competitor, at just 16 years old.

"I remember saying I hoped I wouldn't be first and then the Stoltman brother told me I was," she said.

"I was so nervous."

But Lauri had nothing to be nervous about. She went on to lift 125kg, setting a personal best.

"The adrenaline was crazy. Everyone was cheering," she said.

She added: "I had the strongest men in the world calling my name, cheering me on."

The following week she was sent results from similar competitions. She didn't think much of it.

However, upon opening the results she discovered it placed her in the top 10 in her category, securing a place at the World Championships.

"I couldn't believe it. I was screaming - it was so surreal," Lauri said.

She is now the only competitor from Shetland to qualify and the youngest from Scotland.

Lauri said the experience of injury and recovery helped drive her success.

"Not being able to do anything put me in a really challenging place mentally and physically, so I think I used that determination," she said.

She has since been following a training programme supported by the Stoltman brothers.

"I'm really proud to be representing Shetland," she added.

Her goals for the competition include a 50kg log lift and a 150kg deadlift.

The Stoltman Brothers have sent words of encouragement to their protegee.

Luke told Radio Scotland Breakfast: "It was great to have Lauri down for our first competition in Invergordon.

"She put in a huge performance which then has qualified her to compete in the USA so we are wishing her the very best of luck.

"She is looking very strong and for such a young girl going out to America I think it's fantastic."

His brother Tom added: "It was really cool seeing Lauri at her first strongman event. She absolutely smashed it and I cannot wait to see how she gets on in America.

"Go smash it for Scotland, Lauri we are all proud of you."

Now Lauri hopes her story will encourage other young people to try new challenges.

"I want to show people what's possible," she said.

"I'm just a 17-year-old girl from Shetland, and now I'm going to the World Championships after only a few months."

"With sheer determination – you can do anything."