Competitive powerlifter and Shoshone-Bannock tribal member Toni Rodriguez
took home the Idaho State 2020 Powerlifting Championship in Boise. She was
the only Native American female competing.
By DANA HERNANDEZ
Sho-Ban News
BOISE — Shoshone-Bannock Tribal member, Toni Rodriguez, daughter of Jesse Rodriguez and Teresa Adakai recently won the Idaho State 2020 Power Lifting Championship in Boise.
Rodriguez competed in three power lifting categories. She benched 237 pounds on the bench, 363 pounds in the squat, and 407 pounds in the deadlift. There were five women in her weight class and 20 overall in the women’s open division. She was also the only Native American female to compete. She received best overall female lifter, while taking first place in her categories. She has been competing competitively for four years.
Rodriguez said it is her fourth time winning the Idaho State Weight Lifting Championship. She started weight lifting with her father Jesse at the Hard Bodies Gym in Blackfoot. Her father helps coach her along with her brother Zach Rodriguez. Her workouts are based on practicing the three power lifting categories along with accessory movements for her shoulders and arms. She works out for an hour and a half at least five to six days a week.
Winning the Idaho State Weight Lifting Championship has allowed her to qualify for Nationals, which will be in Daytona Beach, Florida in October. Rodriguez saod, “I would like to go and it is something I would like to accomplish.”
She draws her inspiration based on how fun it is to see how strong you can become. She knows she is the only Native American competing in power lifting and the Tribes have always been behind her to encourage her and to be her better self.
Rodriguez would like to thank Hard Bodies Gym for sponsoring her and also her father and brother for supporting and coaching her.