Decade after life-altering surgery, Valley powerlifter is a champion

PHOENIX — Ari Phillip hit the lowest point in her life when she underwent surgery that went wrong in 2009. It was a life-altering experience that eventually put her on track to become a champion powerlifter.

“I needed my parathyroid removed. It was supposed to be a quick day surgery, but I woke up and I found out they mishandled my dead weight,” she said. “I came out of anesthesia and thought the doctors had cut my leg off. I couldn’t put any pressure on my left leg.”

Phillip was unable to walk. For six months she was reduced to crawling around her house. Desperate for a cure, she sought answers.

“I just asked God if he could heal me. … I’d become the strongest I’ve ever been,” the Valley resident said.

Phillip began physical therapy sessions until she graduated to group training sessions. The latter proved more challenging, however, when on her first day she lacked the physical strength to do even basic workouts.

“Not even being able to do five push-ups, I cried to my mom. I have never not been strong, especially mentally,” Phillip said. “I promised myself I would never feel that way again.”

Determined to regain her strength, Phillip hired a personal powerlifting trainer to help her build her body strength from the ground up.

“What sets her apart is her willingness to listen and focus,” said her trainer, Patrick Halloway. “She is truly focused on every rep, every set and she genuinely wants to know about the process from start to finish.

“She doesn’t accept excuses from me or herself. She is driven to be the best.”

Phillip, who is in her 40s, is the world, national and state record holder in three power lifts and has broken world records that she or other competitors have held 11 times since February of 2016.

“She is only at the beginning of her career. As far as her goals, every achievement has been a step higher. Going from state to champion. From champion to national and national to world,” said her manager Tyrone Williamson.

Phillip has overcome various hurdles in her life including bullying and racism, but the same perseverance she showed getting through those experiences drove her forward in the face of adversity after her surgery.

It has earned her the nickname “The Warrior.”

“I just competed at Mr. Olympia after two years of powerlifting. There are hundreds of people from all over the world. As a woman competing at a male-dominated sports competition, I felt like a representative for women and that is what drove me to win,” Phillip said.

Phillip now has her eyes set on qualifying for the 2020 Olympics to compete in the clean and jerk and the snatch.