A SCIENTIST of more than 20 years is swapping the laboratory for the lifting platform after being selected to represent Scotland at an international competition.

Irene Hallyburton, of the University of Dundee, has spent decades developing drug compounds for life-threatening diseases such as malaria.

But the 49-year-old from Perth is now set to represent her country at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Canada.

She said: “I was playing roller derby at a high level in Edinburgh against 20-something-year-olds and the physical goal posts just kept moving, so I picked up weight-lifting to stay one step ahead but then I went to support a friend at a powerlifting championship and thought to myself, hell I am already lifting those weights and that was it.

“Powerlifting is still an amateur sport but there are almost 400 affiliated Scottish powerlifters right now.

“It’s definitely a growing sport as more and more people, especially women realise that lifting weights doesn’t make you bulkier or more masculine. It makes you healthier and stronger.

“The side effects of correctly lifting heavy weights are fantastic.”

The life scientist will compete in the Masters 1, Sub 84kg weight division when she flies out to Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada in September.

Her personal bests come in at 145kg for deadlift, 62.5kg for bench press and 130.5kg for squat.

She will have to complete all three under competition rules to have a chance at bringing back gold.