We sat down with veteran athlete, Maxine Morris and asked her the important questions about the Kettlebell Sport, from her dedication, motivation and her colourful wardrobe.. we got a little closer, take a read
Can you tell me how you first discovered kettlebell sport and what drew you to it?
I’m not a natural athlete, in fact at school I frequently played truant from senior school to avoid doing PE. I was always the last one to be picked for the netball or hockey teams. It wasn’t until my late forties, when my daughter encouraged me to join a local gym, that I started to take an interest in physical exercise.
I first saw fitness kettlebells on YouTube. When my local gym acquired some kettlebells, I watched YouTube and I taught myself to do swings. The movement felt so natural. I was hooked.
One of the personal trainers at the gym saw that I used the gym kettlebells and asked me if I’d heard of kettlebell sport. He didn’t have any personal experience of it, so, after doing some research on Google, I found and contacted a lady called Chris Skeats from Nottingham. She lifted kettlebells at Nottingham Kettlebells. From my contact with Chris, I joined Nottingham Kettlebells in 2012. Before too long it was suggested that I enter a kettlebell competition that was taking place in Manchester in April 2013. I hadn’t, in my wildest dreams, imagined that I would ever enter a sports competition of any kind. This was a massive challenge for me.
I trained hard for biathlon, but worried that I would forget how to do the double dip for jerk. On the day of the competition everything was perfect. There were well over 100 people competing and the atmosphere was so welcoming and friendly. I had never experienced anything like it. In fact, it was so friendly that I almost missed my cue to get on the platform for my lift because I was busy chatting. Graham, my husband had to run and get me. I only just made it! I lifted well and achieved a gold medal. I was 52 at the time. There wasn’t a veteran category, so I was competing against younger women. It was at this comp that I realised that I was an athlete. This first competition is still my favourite competition.
What have been some of your proudest moments in the sport so far?
I think one of my proudest moments was achieving a silver medal for 12kg snatch in 2015, at the IUKL World Championships in Dublin. This was a veteran over 50s category and there were about 10 women competing in that category. I achieved 210 reps with a 12kg at snatch. This was a personal best for me. I managed to get a full page write up in my local town’s newspaper.
Were there any tough competitions or challenges that shaped you as an athlete?
I think the most challenging aspect of the sport that I’ve faced is lifting doubles. From a young age, I’ve not had good thoracic mobility, which is needed to lift double kettlebells. I really wanted to lift double biathlon, so I have spent hours doing stretching and mobility to enable me to do this lift. I remember going on a course where a couple of Russian lifters had come over to coach. They told me not to bother doing doubles because of my lack of mobility. That just made me more determined. My best score for double 12kg biathlon was 91 reps’ jerk and 198 snatch at the Welsh GSU comp in 2020. I was on my way to achieving 100 jerks with a 12kg, but then covid arrived and unfortunately, I’ve never managed to get back to lifting the 12s for jerk.
I injured my back badly in 2024, not lifting kettlebells, but doing some gym work. I ended up in A & E as the pain was so intense. During my rehabilitation, whilst spectating at a pentathlon competition, I met Elisha Lewis and watched his kettlebell juggling demonstration. I got home from the competition and ordered myself 4kg & 6kg kettlebells. I found that using the light kettlebells for simple juggling helped me to keep moving and was beneficial for my back recovery. You could say that if I hadn’t injured my back, I probably wouldn’t have found kettlebell juggling. Every cloud has a silver lining!
What keeps you motivated to keep lifting and juggling after all these years?
Nothing else compares to lifting kettlebells. It’s a full body workout in every session. The movements in kettlebell sport suit my body and I’ve never been injured whilst lifting kettlebells. My training sessions are quite short, but I get such fantastic results in overall health and body composition. I am very goal orientated and love a challenge, so Kettlebell sport is perfect, as there are always competitions, whether in person or online to train towards.
I love kettlebell juggling. I practice most days, sometimes twice a day. It is an extreme sport and is quite very challenging to master. It is quite scary, which I love! I have become more agile and aware since starting juggling. It really does switch something on in your brain that you don’t ordinarily use.
Do you follow a particular training philosophy or routine?
I follow programmes set by Abigail Johnson, who has been my coach now for 8 years. Left to my own devices, I’m sure I would over train and get injured. Abi really does know what I can do and how to get the best out of me. I sometimes look at the session that she has set for me and think that it will be too easy, but when I do it, I realise that it’s actually just right.
How do you balance training with everyday life?
I retired in March so that means that I can do some kind of training or mobility every day. I’ve noticed a real difference in my body, since giving up sitting at a desk all day. When I worked as a Probate Manager, I always prioritised kettlebell training, as it’s always helped with stress and mental health.
You’re known for bright lifting clothes and shoes – what does that mean to you in the sport?
I love bright colours and although I do have a very introverted character, I do like to be noticed.
How did you get into designing and making your own outfits and bags, and does it connect to lifting at all? Do you think style and self-expression help with confidence on the platform?
From a child I’ve always loved creating with fabric. I can make my own lifting shorts and alter unisex lifting tee shirts so that they ‘fit’. Lifting in clothes that I love and that I feel comfortable in really adds to how confident I feel on the platform. I love making gifts for people. I’ve made several gifts for people and gifted them at competitions. If someone comes to mind in the weeks before a comp, then I’ll make them something. In so many ways, my creativity is a part of my mental preparation for a comp. Making my recent kettlebell juggling bag is all part of the mental preparation and focus for that competition.
How do you feel about the way the kettlebell community has grown over the years?
It’s great to see more children lifting and not only just lifting but lifting with great technique. When kettlebell sport first kicked off in the UK in 2012/2013, the competitions were very well attended, some comps drawing 120 competitors. We don’t see those numbers at UK comps now and many people who used to lift sadly don’t lift or don’t lift at competitions anymore. I miss those people. I think rather than the community growing, that it has diversified, with more lifts and disciplines available. In 2013 there was only biathlon or long cycle to choose from. Both lifts are very difficult to master, particularly doubles. Pentathlon (single) and the multi switch single kettlebell lifts make it easier for people of all ages to participate in kettlebell sport.
Do you enjoy mentoring or encouraging new lifters?
Yes, I love chatting to new lifters at Grassroots comps and passing on my experience of the sport.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in kettlebells, what would it be?
Get a good coach. Focus on technique before lifting heavier.
Outside of kettlebells and crafting, what does life look like for you?
Life is great! Retirement is great. I’m a bit of a homebird and love just being at home. Now, I don’t even know what day of the week it is. Every day is the weekend! I started a nutrition course before I retired, but gave up before I’d finished it because of time issues. I’m aiming to finish that. I also want to continue creating and passing on new ideas and techniques to my granddaughters.
Who or what inspires you most in everyday life?
The most influential experience in my life was becoming a Christian when I was 21. This dramatically changed my life and has really made me the person that I am today. My husband Graham has been the person in my life who has encouraged me the most. Way before he started lifting kettlebells, he would ferry me to competitions. He enables me to be my best self in every way.
What goals do you still have – in lifting, juggling, or beyond?
I hope to continue to lift in kettlebell sport until I’m in my 90s or beyond. The same with kettlebell juggling. My mum is 96, so I have the genetics. I would like to be able to do a juggling set with an 8kg, which is the weight that the younger women use, but I don’t know if that will happen. I can snatch an 8kg for an hour, but throwing one up in the air is totally different. I will always strive to be the best that I can be, with the body and mind that I have been given.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Creative, determined, loyal
What’s something most people in the kettlebell community might not know about you?
I’m a carnivore, so the total opposite to a vegan.
thank you Maxine, if you want to know more, email us at membership@englishkettlebells.org