Emily Trinks Aims for More, Not Less

Emily Trinks started with SKC just over a year and a half ago when she reconnected with one of the club’s trainers, whom she had skated with for the Windy City Rollers (Roller Derby) back in Chicago.

“Even though I’ve done sports for a lot of my life, I don’t think of myself as super competitive. I’m more interested in performing well versus winning,” Trinks said. 

And perform well she did! Last Saturday at the CrazyMonkey USA Kettlebell Sport Championship, her third competition since December, Trinks achieved CMS (candidate for master of sport) in a 5-minute Biathlon with 20-kg kettlebells.

“I’m never going to be someone to congratulate someone for losing weight. I’ll congratulate that they can run faster, lift more, or be deeper in their yoga practice. It’s about being able to do more not be less.”

Describing herself as a metrics driven person, Trinks uses her Instagram stories as a training log. 

“I don’t believe that fitness looks like one thing, which is something you see so much in social media,” Trinks said. “I know that I’m really strong, and I know that that’s something I’m really proud of and want to celebrate. I don’t own a scale. Yes, I’m a big lady, but I’m strong, and I’m active.”

Trinks has made fantastic strength progress. She used 12 kg bells in her first competition back in December, 16’s at the Vancouver Open earlier this spring (where she also received a CMS ranking) and on Saturday she used 20’s!  With the kettlebell strides she’s made in a short period of time, Trinks encourages those who are hesitant to compete to give it a shot.

Snatch set.  Photo Credit: Matt Burns

KETTLEBELL BIATHLON: 1 SET EACH OF KETTLEBELL SNATCH AND KETTLEBELL JERK. (YOUR CHOICE OF 5 OR 10-MINUTE SETS)

EMILY’S RESULTS

5-MINUTE KETTLEBELL JERK SET

TWO 20 KG KETTLEBELLS X 40 REPS = 3,520 LBS LIFTED

5-MINUTE KETTLEBELL SNATCH SET

ONE 20 KG KETTLEBELL X 73 REPS = 3,212 LBS LIFTED

“You’re not going to be judged for trying,” Trinks said. “This is such a diverse and inclusive community in terms of body image and athlete inclusiveness. Nobody doesn’t fit in. If you’re doing the work, you’re doing the work.”

Emily and Coach Puchlov discuss her first set

Trinks was also a rower in college, and she compares the sport to kettlebells because of the focus on counting reps, weight volumes, and maintaining a steady pace. 

Along with using her Instagram to track her training, Trinks often posts selfies showing herself sweaty after a good workout. She’s focused more on the realistic side of fitness versus the false glamorization that many Instagram models portray. As stated earlier, she really wants fitness enthusiasts to realize that athletes come in many forms. 

The final seconds of Emily's jerk set!

“It’s all about progress and defining yourself by progress versus anything else. For everyone in the fitness community, weight loss is seen as the goal, and I think that’s where people tend to get hung up,” Trinks said. 

-Camille Borodey