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In Focus - Annabelle Cox

Annabelle Cox

Year of Study: Year 1

This month, we spoke to Year 1 BSMS student and sports scholar, Annabelle Cox. She told us about her passion for powerlifting, being part of the Sports Performance programme at the University of Brighton and her advice for those who want to get into this sport.

What made you want to study medicine?

This question is taking me back to my MMI preparation! But all jokes aside, there were many reasons as to why I wanted to (and still want to) study medicine. Science has always been a passion of mine, being my favourite subject throughout school, and when I started to consider careers and undertake work experience, the science aspect of medicine stood out to me. As someone who loves academics, the lifelong learning that comes with medicine, alongside the seemingly endless possibilities, from clinical practice to research opportunities across so many specialities, enhanced my interest. Additionally, patient interaction and having an impact, even if it is small, is something I found incredibly rewarding during my work experience and continues to be at medical school, especially during GP placement and strangely enough during OSCEs (even if the patients are actors)! Also having studied a different degree previously, medicine being the career that kept coming to the forefront of my mind, really confirmed to me that it was the career I wanted to pursue.

Can you tell me a bit about the Sports Performance / Sports scholars programme and your involvement?

The Sports Performance programme is amazing, and I feel very fortunate to be part of it. As athletes, we’re lucky to be given access to lots of facilities at the university, from S&C sessions, recovery sessions (both pool sessions and ‘on land’) and physiotherapy if needed. Seminar sessions on important topics such as “Clean Sport” and nutrition are also held, which really aids in helping us become the best athletes we can be. In addition to this, being part of a group of lovely, like-minded people, who understand the complexities of managing high-level sport and studies, does help in making you feel less alone in it.

How did you get into powerlifting?

I got into powerlifting through a recommendation about 6 months into starting the gym during my gap year. I became friends with somebody who had studied at the University of Exeter, the university I was about to enrol at, and they suggested that I try out the powerlifting club when I joined, so I did. I started using the club’s free program, made so many friends in the club and fell in love with the sport from there. I definitely didn’t expect it to take the path that it has but I am very grateful to that friend for starting it all off.

What’s something that you wish more people knew about powerlifting?

That you don’t have to have a certain level of strength and experience to start! Many people I have spoken to think that you have to have a certain level of strength before you start and are hesitant to start as a result but that is certainly not the case. Having trained before can be beneficial but it is definitely not necessary, as long as you train hard enough, you will gain strength relatively quickly. Having said that, strength isn’t everything – yes we compete, we want to do well, and we take it seriously, but at the end of the day, at least for me, I powerlift because I enjoy it and the most important thing to remember when competing is to just have fun!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into this sport?

Similar to my answer to the question above, my advice for anyone that wants to get into the sport would be just start! I know it can be quite overwhelming not knowing where to start with the style of training, but my advice would be reach out to powerlifters or powerlifting coaches on social media or if you’re going to a gym already, ask around about powerlifting as some PTs may also provide powerlifting coaching. As long as you enjoy the gym and the powerlifting style of training you are all set. I am also more than happy for anyone that has questions to message me, and I’ll be happy to have a chat or answer any questions about the sport.

You can follow Annabelle on Instagram @annabelle.liftss

How do you balance your course commitments with your dedication to your sport?

Balancing powerlifting and studying medicine has definitely been a challenge I have had to navigate and overcome, and I certainly haven’t mastered it yet! As with medicine, time management and organisation have been crucial, having structured and planned out days, around studies and training schedules is vital. I think acknowledging that priorities change throughout the year, medical studies more so during exam season and powerlifting when I have a competition coming up. Understanding that some sacrifices will unfortunately have to be made, and structuring my day around those priorities, has really helped. It can be overwhelming at times trying to fit it all in, but I am incredibly lucky to have such supportive friends and family who I can lean on when I need to. I am also incredibly grateful to the Medical School too, as they are equally as supportive and understanding of the difficulties of balancing studies and sport, and have been very accommodating!

How would you describe your medical school experience in three words?

Intense, wholesome, fulfilling.