Esterbauer (67) was the oldest woman competing at the New Zealand powerlifting bench press championships at the Olympic Gymnasium in Mosgiel on Saturday.
The Tauranga woman won the gold medal in the masters women's 3, 67.5kg class. It was a New Zealand record of 50kg.
She equalled the New Zealand record when she lifted 47.5kg with her second lift and went one better with her third lift to set the new mark. It was her second national record.
But it would not have happened if Esterbauer, a retired nurse, had followed the normal medical advice and kept away from weight-lifting after her spine was fused.
"Everyone told me I wouldn't be able to lift weights after having my spine fused in an operation," she said.
Esterbauer grew up on a sheep farm near Masterton and used to ride her horse nearly 10km to school each day. This rugged upbringing developed a defiant streak in Esterbauer, who always attempts to beat the odds by defying conventional wisdom.
She had pain in her lower back for years and decided the operation was the only way to relieve the pain that had been her constant companion for so long.
"I got my life back after the operation and wanted to keep doing things," she said. "Life for me really began again at 60. You are never too old to do things."
Powerlifting is the family sport and her husband, Felix, also broke a New Zealand record in the masters men 4, 100kg class with a lift of 112.5kg on his second lift. He failed at 115kg on his third attempt.
There were seven other New Zealand records set at the championships. These went to Douglas Hope (Canterbury), sub-junior 60kg class, 92.5kg; Adele Haberfield (Bay of Plenty), masters women 82.5kg class, 87.5kg; Taari Murray (Northland), over 90kg class, 160kg; Becky Soffe (Otago), sub junior 75kg class, 82.5kg; Alastair Smith (Northland), masters men 4, 75kg class, 75kg; Reg Bartlett (Otago), masters men 3, 75kg class, 118,5kg and Peter Tuisano (Otago), masters men 3, 125kg class, 170kg.
Murray (39), a personal trainer from Kaitaia, was named the best woman overall at the championships using the Wilkes Formula. It works on a power-to-weight ratio.
Soffe (18), a pupil at St Hildas Collegiate, beat her own national record when she lifted 83.5kg in her second attempt. She missed her third attempt at 87.5kg.
She is the daughter of tournament director Marie Soffe, who won a silver medal in the deadlift with 177.5kg in the 67.5kg class at the world masters championships in Palm Springs, California, last month.
Reuben Simanu (Bay of Plenty), did not break any records but had the satisfaction of winning his 12th heavyweight powerlifting title and his eighth bench press title in the over 125kg class. He weighs 152.8kg.
The control system technician from Whakatane lifted the heaviest weight of the day - 272.5kg - with his second lift and was named the best overall man on the Wilkes Formula.
It was short of his personal best lift of 305kg, but this was understandable considering the problems he has had this year.
"I had a motorbike accident in January and injured my triceps and shoulder," he said. "I also fractured my wrist and couldn't lift anything for nine weeks.''
Dunedin pastor Peter Tuisano (Otago), who returned to the sport after a three year gap, broke a New Zealand record in the masters men 3, 125kg class with his lift of 170kg. He also holds a Commonwealth and Oceania record.
Otago's top lifter, Steve Varga (36), a Dunedin personal trainer, won his fourth national title when he lifted 210kg in the 110kg class. It was the first time he had contested the bench press championships. It was a personal best lift by 2.5kg.
There were 55 lifters competing at the championships. Bay of Plenty dominated the teams events and was the best mens' and womens' team and also won the overall teams trophy.
