Women of Strength Throwdown

3 years in the making…

2024: missed the sign-up.
2025: pregnant and too sick to compete.
2026: her daughter was six months old. She signed up anyway.

Courtney () is one of the owners of Empower Fitness (.fitness.sg). She trains women to be stronger, not smaller. And when it came to showing up for herself after one of the biggest years of her life, she did exactly what she coaches others to do.

"Even if you don't feel prepared, just do it. You'll come out 100% better on the other side."

And she did!

She's 19. It was her first competition. She said yes before she thought about it... then realised what she signed up for.

She didn't have a community like this in school. Then strangers at a competition cheered for her like they'd known her for years. Then she thought she broke a ski erg and held her team back, but her whole team huddled around her before she could even process it.

Also, she wanted to bring a helmet. 🪖 Next up: 100 kg?? We'll be watching.

She used to train every day.

Then she had two kids. Her focus shifted — completely. By 2023, she'd climbed to 70kg, barely recognised herself in the mirror, and she and her daughter were at each other constantly. Things at home were breaking down.

She tried spin class, home workouts, everything. Nothing moved.

End of 2023, she Googled a gym near the school drop-off and walked into her first BFT class. She was dead by the end of it.

Eight weeks later — after learning about nutrition for the first time and she was down 10kg.

But the number wasn't what made her happier. It was the time she took for herself to take care of her health and saw how it "benefit(ted) [her] whole family."

Then came HYROX. International races. Second place at WST this year, stronger than she was last time.

And her message to every mum:

"In order to take care of the family, we ourselves have to take care of ourselves."

Not instead of your kids. So you can actually show up for them.

Meet Ana () 🤸‍♂️

She grew up training as a competitive gymnast in Russia. After sessions during competition season, her team would pile into the recovery area. Sauna, contrast pools … and just be girls. Snacks, MTV, an hour of not being athletes.

That feeling never left.

When she moved to Singapore, recovery studios were popping up everywhere, but none built exclusively for women. She found a community that felt the same way, and decided to build the space herself.

sg is Singapore’s first women-only recovery studio in Holland Village. Cold plunge at 12–15°C, at a temperature that is comfortable for women. Sauna. Hot baths. A cafe called Nourish. A letter wall where women leave notes for each other.

And an ethos that has nothing to do with competition:

“It’s about empowering each other to actually try.”

From now till end July, all women get 1 free session + 10% off packages and Nourish menu at .sg. Drop them a DM to book now or just walk in! T&Cs apply.

Strength looks like this.

WST 2026 recap! Thank you to every athlete who brought it to the platform. We’ll see you next year…?

Highlights by 🎥

What does it mean to you to be a woman?