A ten-year-old girl won gold in a strong woman contest against ADULTS

Meet the ten-year-old girl who won a gold medal in a strong-woman contest against adults last weekend, and can pull a two-tonne transit van for ten metres.

Aeryn-Ejjina Atkinson won her gold as the lightest person to shift the most kilos compared to body weight in a movement called the silver dollar lift.

She also brought home one other medal and a trophy from the push, pull, move contest in Gloucester on Sunday August 22.

The young olympic dreamer, weighing 32 kilos, was one of only two competitors able to lift three times their own bodyweight in the UK-wide event: her first-ever lifting competition.

she  heaved an impressive 96-kilo barbell off the floor, using a semi-squatting motion similar to a dead lift, beating all other six contestants because she is lighter than the other tripple-bodyweight lifter.

The challenge is called the silver dollar lift because it used to be undertaken with two buckets of silver dollar coins slung either end of a metal bar.

The tough cooky, only four foot six tall, also carried a 65kg barbell across the back of her shoulders: lugging it a full 15 metres in 32 seconds, to come fifth of five in an event called the yolk walk.

Aeryn pushed 22.5kg off her shoulders straight above her head in the three-rep max log press, achieving her second medal for the personal best,  though coming in seventh out of seven.

She won her trophy for youngest compettitor.

Aeryn, from Telford West Midlands said: "I feel proud.

"and I'm excited for my next competition.

"I dream of being in the olympics, but I didn't think I'd be doing this at age ten.

"I wasn't expecting to get into strong woman but once I saw it I knew it was my thing."

Determined Aeryn built herself a barbell out of lego aged seven when dad Craig, 40, and admin-worker mum Melody, 41, said she wasn't allowed to start weightlifting.

Inspired by her dad's thrice-weekly workout, and watching the sport on TV, she trained with her lego every day, striving to become like Dwayne "the rock" Johnson, until eventually the parents gave in and found her a proper instructor.

Now she does at least two hours training a day, starting at 5am while her parents and Brother Jovan, 11, are still sleeping.

She fits in a second daily session after school and finishing her homework.

She said: "Dwayne "the rock" Johnson gets up at five so I thought I'd try it.

I started doing it and then it's just a habit that I've got into.

"I enjoy it but sometimes I get really tired, then I normally tell myself 'you did this yesterday so you can do it again.' And I can.

"I'll never give it up."

Aeryn was invited to take part as a guest lifter in the 'push, pull, move' competition run by fitness company Oak Strength.

Her prowess impressed strong-woman and personal trainer Emma Kennedy, who runs Oak Strength, when they met in April via a family connection, and Aeryn has been training with Emma once a month since.

Aeryn is also in the pre-olympic program, and trains with Phoenix weight lifting in Gloucester.

She is hoping to compete in the British Open in November.

The busy ten-year-old's regime includes Olympic weight lifting, Athletics training, Strong woman training, and Cross fit (weight lifting, gymnastics and cardio.)

Craig, a stay-at-home dad and writer, said: "I don't think you'll find a crazier ten year old but you won't find one more dedicated either.

No matter how many times we say you're not going to do that it's crazy she'll always find a way.

"A lot of people have the misconception that young people shouldn't lift but in many countries it's a national sport.

"It's all about training with people qualified to look after her as she develops so she learns to lift safely.

"If you do the right technique you're okay, and properly trained people won't let you lift unless you're doing it properly.

"We're really proud of her, and slightly scared.

"Any time there's something needs doing that requires strength like opening a pickled onion jar it's Aeryn's job.

"We've Got to make use of all those muscles."

One of Aeryn's training highlights was pulling a two-tonne transit van for ten metres.

"It felt really good", she said.