Diné powerlifter preparing for Raw Nationals

By Nicholas House
Navajo Times

GALLUP – With a national powerlifting competition underway in a couple of weeks, Gabrielle Dempsey girds herself for the best, setting two hours aside in training daily to break a regional record.

She will be competing at the 2024 Raw Nationals – USA Powerlifting in Salt Lake City. The competition will take place at the Salt Palace Convention Center Sept. 4-9. She will be competing in the women’s 90-kilogram (198-plus-pound) weight class.

Dempsey, 26, is Tábąąhá and born for Tódích’íi’nii. Her maternal grandfather is Bilagáana, and her paternal grandfather is Naasht’ézhí Dine’é Táchii’nii. She resides in Albuquerque but is originally from Sundance, New Mexico.

Dempsey, who goes by “Gabby,” steamrolled her potential in her powerlifting career since her debut meet in March 2019, placing first in the weight division at Wowie’s Gym.

Dempsey last month (on July 20, 2024,) curated a fundraiser – at Wowie’s Gym – to go to the Raw Nationals. One of her goals was to give her community a chance to get their feet wet and give them confidence in signing up for larger sanctioned, or official, competition.

Wowie’s Gym held its first powerlifting meet of the year for her. Several local and out-of-state powerlifters threw their hat in the ring over that weekend.

As defined, powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. In competitions, they have three tries to successfully lift a pre-chosen amount of weight using each lift.

“It makes me feel good to see the friendship, the camaraderie, everybody getting together, everyone pushing each other. It’s a really positive atmosphere,” said Dennis Rosales, the Wowie’s Gym owner, after the event. The event gave out many awards to different sex, weight, and age classes that took part. Participation directly supported Dempsey.

Friends, relatives support

Dempsey started her journey from humble beginnings. Her framework began with working on her family’s ranch. In high school she participated in track and field, excelling in the shot put, in which she found strength – speed and power.

“From there, I always knew she was strong,” said Ethan Dempsey, Gabrielle’s younger brother. In 2018, she and Ethan decided to join Wowie’s Gym, where she found a love for powerlifting. The following year, the gym hosted a powerlifting competition fundraiser for Serena Abweh of Gallup. Gabby placed first in her weight division, bringing home a trophy.

Fueled, she questioned Ethan, “Is there anything else, more to this? Is there something like this?”

Ethan continued taking her scores from that competition and compared other competitions stats. “I think she’s at 800 to 900 (pounds) total,” he said, meaning three-lift total: bench press, squats, and deadlifts. “That was really high for a lady. I didn’t know at the time.”

Afterward, both Ethan and Gabby researched the sport and continued working on her commands and form.

Setting records

Gabby set off to compete at more local and state competitions and regionals. Collectively, she set seven records with USAPL, five at the New Mexico State Championships and two at the West Coast Regional Championships.

Amanda Baldonado, a close friend of Gabby, describes seeing Gabby early in her journey: “I already knew that drive and integrity and love for the sport was going to take her well over.”

Baldonado is a competitive bodybuilder who trained in the same gym. Both competing in close sports, Baldonado recognized Gabby’s impressive efforts in male-dominated sports. She supported her as she embarked on her competition.

As Gabby and her friends and family prepare her for her first attempt at the national next month, they’re taking this as a competition to do better than the last.

“Mentally, I’m prepared for it,” Gabby said. “Every time I go into the gym, I mentally prepare that I’m stepping into nationals in the loading area. Trying to get the nerves out of me at this point. Emotionally, I’m pretty nervous.”

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