NORTHBROOK, IL — The Northbrook Strong hashtag campaign was created a few years ago to show that members of the community were supporting each other during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the message might have an added meaning as one of its residents prepares to represent Northbrook and her country in a world powerlifting competition.
Rachel Olshansky, a 2023 graduate of Glenbrook North High School, will represent Team USA next month at the Sub-Junior World Championships in Cluj Napoca, Romania. The Northbrook Village Board passed a resolution Tuesday honoring the state-champion powerlifter as she prepares for her trip.
“Rachel, you rock. You are seriously amazing,” Northbrook Village President Kathryn Ciesla said to Olshansky after reading the resolution.
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Olshansky will be joined by her coach, Paul Harayo, who was in attendance at the meeting. The two-time national champion will also be competing in Romania.
“We’re both hoping to bring back medals. This is an amazing opportunity,” said Olshansky, who is one of just nine women set to make the trip for the U.S. “I’m grateful to represent my country on the world stage.”
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According to the resolution, Olshansky, who is a freshman at Marquette University, has “always been committed to health and wellness.” A few years ago, while she was working with a trainer at Lifetime Fitness in Northbrook, Olshansky discovered the world of powerlifting by watching competition videos on YouTube. After doing some research, she also realized that she was already lifting higher numbers for her weight class than some current state records.
Success soon followed for Olshansky as she set a state record with a 320-pound deadlift at her first regional meet. She followed that up by winning the state championship and set a new record by beating her previous record by 40 pounds.
Recently, in June, Olshansky placed second at the Powerlifting Sub-Junior Nationals competition in Arizona, qualifying her for Romania to represent the United States.
“I particularly have a fondness for strong women,” said Trustee Muriel Collison, before presenting Olshansky with a tank top that had her photo on it. “Hopefully, you’ll wear this at the gym and know Northbrook is so proud of you.”
The tank top included the message, “Putting the Strong in Northbrook Strong since 2022.”
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