“I’m 41 years old and a mother of a 5 year old and I want to be able to inspire people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances by showing them that they can be whatever they want. I have no sports experience and I always skipped physical education at school, but now I’m ready to compete with the best in the world.”

That’s the inspiring message from Andrea Seed, who works in Lancashire County Council’s adult social care team, as she prepares to fly to America to take part in the official games strong men.

The competition brings hundreds of Strongman and Strongwoman athletes from over 35 countries to Madison, Wisconsin.

Andrea is a previous holder of the title as she was named ‘Britain’s Strongest Natural Woman’ in 2021 and earlier this year she finished fourth in the Europe’s Strongest Woman competition.

She explained how she started weightlifting after battling postnatal depression following the birth of her son.

“I felt like I didn’t really know myself, I had lost myself a bit,” she said.

“Then someone I know told me about a strongman gym in Preston. They said go there and have a chat because you could do something different.

“They kind of welcomed me and it took me a long time to come out of the shadows, but I felt that by having something for myself that wasn’t about being a mom, it it was just about tapping into my own resilience that was already there, which I didn’t realize was there.

“I started lifting weights and I was comfortable doing it, which I had never really experienced before.

“I wasn’t feeling great mentally, but I found that by achieving something, strengthening my body, going somewhere and doing something just for me, I started to find a little more goal and find myself a little behind.

“For me, it was about discovering my potential and believing in myself a little.”

Andrea at the gym

Andrea competes in the Masters category, reserved for over-40s, and will have to overcome four grueling events to be among the final 10 competitors.

The first is the monster log challenge where she will have to lift a metal log weighing 86 kilograms above her head.

Next comes the Jocko fuel car walk, during which she will have to carry the chassis of a car on her back along a 15 meter course as quickly as possible. There is a time limit of 60 seconds and the car weighs 280 kilos.

The following days’ events are an axle deadlift and a sandbag medley.

In this final event, Andrea will have to run a 15.25 meter course holding two sandbags, load them both onto a sled and then push the sled back.

By day, Andrea works in Lancashire County Council’s adult social care team.

Councilor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult social care, said:

“We all wish Andrea the best of luck in her competition.

“It’s great to see her using a strengths-based approach both in and out of work. Andrea has helped social workers introduce a new way of working to the county council through Living Better Lives in Lancashire .

“Through this, we encourage people to use what is strong in their community, such as support from friends, family and local organizations, to stay healthy, achieve what they want and live healthy lives. independent for longer.”

You can find out more about the support offered by the county council to stay healthy. here