Norlane paramedic headed to the Official Strongman Games

NORLANE paramedic Katie Blunden is on her way to becoming Australia’s strongest women as she gears up to take on the Official Strongman Games.

Heading to the United States, she’ll compete in the 2024 competition running from December 5 to 8 for the title of World’s Strongest Woman.

The second-year paramedic began competing in strongman in 2021 after watching one of her friends compete in a local competition.

“Strongman is a sport where you lift different heavy objects either for a maximum weight, maximum reps or to carry for a maximum distance or time,” she said.

“Each competition will have different events and involve different implements to lift, so it’s always changing and no two competitions are the same.”

Ms Blunden was crowned Victoria’s strongest woman last year and is currently second in Australia, loving how diverse the sport is and always training a different event or implement.

“I’ve been able to do some pretty cool things in strongman – I’ve pulled trucks, flipped a car, pressed more than 140 kilograms over my head and carried more than 300 kilograms on my back,” she said.

“Being able to life heavy weight and achieve something that people such as myself thought was impossible is a very powerful feeling.”

Becoming a paramedic at Ambulance Victoria was always a life goal for Ms Blunden, inspired after breaking her ankle at 14 and needing an ambulance.

She has a love for learning about medicine, enjoys helping people and working a job where no two days are the same, making being a paramedic a great combination for her.

“Strongwoman has helped me become a very driven and dedicated individual which is important for developing a long-term career,” she said.