A POWERLIFTER has recovered from injury to win a world title while representing Great Britain.

Jo Foster has returned from Hungary where she scooped the prestigious Global Powerlifting Committee (GPC) World Championship.

Her success in the M2 60kg category, for competitors aged 45-49, followed a successful 2017, when the Hexham woman was crowned both British and European champion.

Jo, who runs Dillies florist in Hexham, broke her own world record no fewer than four times on the way to her latest success.

She said: “It feels great. Last year I lifted a world best weight of 145kg, so this time I started with a 146kg opening lift attempt.”

The mum-of-one went on to lift weights of 150kg and 155kg, before settling for 157.5kg with her final effort.

“You usually just get three lifts,” she said, “but because I kept breaking the record I was entitled to another go.”

Jo overcame a muscular injury in her back to compete in Hungary, after teaming up with new coach Mark MacQueen, a world, Commonwealth, and British champion, from Glasgow.

She added: “I trained four days per week, with good preparation and good diet.

“I wasn’t sure if I would be ready, but Mark convinced me that I was.

“You don’t know how you’re going to feel until you do that first lift, but I felt brilliant and performed really well.

“Powerlifting is technique based. It’s about strength, but if you don’t have the technique, you will hurt yourself.

“Mark has helped me psychologically, and that has enabled me to believe in what I am capable of.”

Jo retuned from Hungary with more than her world championship medal.

She also received a trophy for finishing second out of all masters (competitors aged over 40), in all weights.

“The trophy was a bonus,” she added. “I did what I set out to do, and I am very happy.”

Jo was crowned sportswoman of the year at last year’s Tynedale Sports Awards.

A well-known businesswoman in Hexham, she has ran Dillies, on Market Street, for the past eight years.