Think weightlifting is all bulging biceps, throbbing thighs, and pulsing pecs? Think again.

At 4 feet, 10 inches, Vietnamese-American Mykim Dang admits she’s not your average powerlifting competitor, but that doesn’t stop her from bench-pressing 140 pounds of iron, squatting with 240, and deadlifting with 300.

“I really like inspiring other people because when they see someone of my size being able to do this kind of work, it really helps them with whatever area of their life they might be struggling in,” said Dang, a Boston resident and video producer.

Dang was one of several lifters who participated in the Joseph Mugovero Memorial Championship at The Cage in Marion, which honored a veteran powerlifter from Connecticut.

Liz Pophel-Pereira, owner of Rock Body Training, who operates out of The Cage, said this is the second powerlifting competition she’s helped to host.

“Last time we had competitors from 8 to 65-years-old,” said Pophel-Pereira. “It averages from 100 pounds to 600-700 pounds that people are lifting.”

Laura Rinke, a stay-at-home mom from Bridgewater, said she began powerlifting two years ago. She couldn’t say why the sport originally appealed to her, but having three sons under age 8 might have something to do with it.

“It’s a good outlet for aggression,” she joked. “I guess I obviously have some.”

Rinke’s boys don't make it to too many of their mom's competitions.

“They usually get kicked out," said Rinke. "They throw action figures at my butt while I’m squatting."

While both Rinke and Dang compete as a hobby, 16-year-old Adam Hamdan wants to become a professional lifter one day.

Still a high school student in Worcester, Hamdan said he was always the strongest kid in his class.

“I can’t do things that require swiftness. I’m just brute force,” he said.

Hamdan began training more than a year ago, and said he was nervous at his first competition.

“I thought everyone was going to be judging me, but once you get here, everyone is roaring you on. Everyone is on your side,” said Hamdan. “After that I just kind of fell in love with it.”

With an all-time high squat of 405 pounds and a deadlift the same, Hamdan said his family was afraid he would get inured in the sport. But he said, “I don’t lift with my ego. I’m very safe with it.”

Scott Taylor, president of the American Powerlifting Association, came from Missouri to run the championship and said he plans to do more competitions in the area. Although the former Olympic lifter leaves the iron pushing to others these days, he wants to keep the sport alive.

“I’m passing things on to other generations,” he said.

For more on local powerlifting, contact Liz Pophel-Pereira at 774-678-9430.