A MEDAL-winning powerlifter and single mother of two has officially opened a new gym in Redditch.

Kelly Phasey recently moved to a bigger and better gym in Windsor Road, Enfield.

As well as her day-to-day personal training and group exercise classes which include a ladies only “Sisters of Strength” community, she is also running training sessions for British Powerlifting members of the GB Powerlifting team, some of whom travel from as far away as Manchester, London and the South Coast to take part.

“I work on functional fitness as well as strength and conditioning in classes and as a personal trainer,” said Kelly.

“My clients range from an 18 year-old cricketer to a 65 year-old looking to get fitter.

"But it’s not the usual sort of gym with rows of cardio-vascular machines. We have a lot of free weights, power racks and equipment for functional fitness, so we attract an array of people working on their own fitness journeys."

Now 42, Kelly’s move into fitness came in a dramatic career switch just six years ago, from retail and office work to studying for a degree in Sports Science at HOW College.

Talking about her time at college, Kelly said: “Coming back to college as a mature student and studying with 16 to 18 year olds was a daunting prospect but they made me feel welcome.

"I have always been passionate about sport, therefore, I knew what I wanted to do and was focussed on my studies.”

After completing her Level 3, Kelly progressed onto the College’s HND in Sports Coaching and Development before gaining her full degree in Sports Science at Newman University.

During her studies she started working at a gym in Droitwich.

She added: "I had played rugby for many years so the owner encouraged me to try powerlifting and the rest as they say is history.”

Since she started competing in 2013, as well as her British titles and records, Kelly has achieved a bronze medal in Bench at the Powerlifting World Championships and a silver medal at the Powerlifting European Championships.