Senior Airman Bianca Mendoza is 4-foot-10 and shattering NM powerlifting records

When Bianca Mendoza walks into a gym, few would guess she’s one of the strongest women in the room. At just 4-foot-10 and 120 pounds, the senior airman stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base doesn’t stand out — until she steps onto the platform.

In June, Mendoza competed at the Powerlifting America Police, Firefighter, and Military Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meet brought together more than 60 military and first responder athletes, all vying for top lifts in squat, bench press, and deadlift. For Mendoza, it was more than just another competition — it was her chance to return to the sport she loves after an injury that nearly ended her lifting career.

The setback she faced — a torn meniscus — could have ended her competitive ambitions. Recovery wasn’t quick, nor was it easy, but she took the proper steps to ensure she returned at full strength.

She said it took her roughly seven months to fully recuperate and regain her strength.

“Coming back from surgery, I was so glad I was able to move and lift again,” Mendoza said. “I did work with our OST (Operational Support Team) and my coach about the strengths of getting back into running and being able to squat the bar. It wasn’t until the January-February timeline that I was good to go.”

At the competition, Mendoza didn’t just participate; she shattered eight Powerlifting America New Mexico state records in her 57-kilogram (125-pound) weight class, both in the junior (ages 18-23) and open divisions. Her lifts included a 120-kilogram squat (264 pounds), a 160-kilogram deadlift (352 pounds), and a total of 350 kilograms (771 pounds) across all three lifts.

“I just went in trying to do my best,” she said smiling. “It was very eye-opening for me to keep going … I can keep performing if I really commit myself to it.”

Although powerlifting now defines her athletic career, it wasn’t her first love. Growing up in Colorado, she played several sports, with softball as her main focus. Those early years in the gym laid the foundation for her strength.

“We did a lot of weightlifting in my other sports,” she said.

Her powerlifting journey began in 2021, when she moved to New Mexico. When one of her supervisors started a powerlifting team, Mendoza joined. What began as a way to stay active, quickly evolved into an all-out pursuit of strength and excellence.

Balancing her Air Force duties with a demanding training schedule was no small task. During the season, she trained up to five days a week, spending more than an hour and a half in the gym.

“I like to have (everything) planned out. Depending on the training that I’m doing, I’ll write it down … these are my work responsibilities and make time for lifting (certain) days. It definitely has its tolls where you’re tired, but I feel like that’s the best time to see better results.”

Mendoza’s drive isn’t just about records. She lifts with a sense of purpose — representing not only herself but also her family, her Air Force community, and now, Team USA. Her younger siblings see her as a role model, and she keeps a quote on her wall that fuels her mindset: “You don’t have problems; you have work to do.”

Mendoza said she emphasizes this quote in her daily life and uses it as motivation.

“I feel that through the day, you may be tired, you may have an interaction you don’t like,” she said. “To me … if you put yourself to it, (you will make) yourself better even just 1% every single day.”

Mendoza credits her coach, Dee Hernandez-Avalos, a strength and conditioning specialist, with instilling the mental toughness that fueled her comeback.

“Our goal is to build a culture of strength, physically and mentally,” Hernandez-Avalos said. “Bianca’s journey shows that with the right mindset, nothing is off-limits.”

The competition format itself called for strategy and mental focus. Lifters were divided by age and weight class, with each athlete given three attempts to squat, bench press, and deadlift. The highest successful lift in each category is added together for a total score, adjusted for one’s body weight.

“I didn’t have any expectations. I just wanted to be out on the platform again,” she recalled. “I was just trying to get my toes back into it … I’m really glad I did and coming out with the records I did, it was a lot more I could’ve for.”

“Bianca’s comeback has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Hernandez-Avalos. “From post-surgery rehab to standing at the top of the podium—she showed resilience, discipline and grit every step of the way.”

Her record-breaking performance in Las Vegas also earned her qualification for the 2025 Military World Powerlifting Invitational — Hands Across the Sea, a prestigious international event set to take place in the United Kingdom.

Looking ahead, Mendoza is focused on representing her country on the world stage.

“As long as I can have fun and show up and do my best that day,” she said. “It’s exciting to compete. I get to represent Team USA, which is something that I’m so excited to do somewhere else and I’m able to get the opportunity to go to the UK.”