Powerlifting Prowess: Elkhorn North’s Dakota Courtright overcomes scoliosis with No. 1 world ranking

OMAHA, Neb. —

Until the age of 11, Dakota Courtright thought softball was her future.

“At the time, I was like, I’m going to play softball forever and I’m going to play it in high school,” Elkhorn North senior Dakota Courtright said. “Softball was my favorite thing.”

Then COVID hit in 2020, and Dakota fell into a funk.

Searching for a way to stay busy, her mom Merci took her to the gym where her powerlifting coach noticed Dakota’s natural strength. He then made a suggestion that transformed her life.

“He was like, you should try powerlifting and I was like I don’t want to do that,” Dakota said. “But I tried it anyway and it was really good and it’s something that I love.”

“She didn’t seem to have any limits right off the bat so that was overwhelming in a good way,” Merci Courtright said.

Setting a national record at 12 years old, Dakota and her mom began the journey side-by-side the first few years. Inspiring one another along the way as the two trained together, competed together, and won together at the 2021 and 2022 Battle For The Yard in California.

“It’s something I’ll never forget,” Merci said. “Hugging her and taking pictures with our team and having awards and thinking ‘Wow we did this thing together’.”

“There’s no one I’d rather have at my side to win first place,” Dakota said.

But it almost ended there.

At 13 years old, Dakota was told by doctors of a 12 percent spinal curvature, further diagnosed with scoliosis.

“The one thing I was repeating over and over in my head was ‘Can I still powerlift?” Dakota said.

“The fact that the doctors said to continue powerlifting, I was like ‘whoa okay let’s go,” Merci said.

Scoliosis hasn’t slowed her down.

The 17-year-old sports personal bests of 390 pounds in squat, 210 pounds in bench, and 445 pounds in deadlift — her personal favorite.

“I think that it’s just raw strength,” Dakota said. “Every single muscle group. The atmosphere when it gets to deadlift time is electric.”

Feeding off that energy, Dakota has dominated the field nearly everywhere she’s competed. She has set over 15 national records, winning State title in Nebraska and California.

“Winning first place in my division and winning first place as the overall female lifter, it was definitely one of my favorite moments,” Dakota said.

Her greatest title yet came after first place finishes at national events in Nebraska and Texas. Dakota earned an International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) No. 1 world ranking for her age and 165-pound weight class. She was also invited to represent the United States at the IPF Sub-Junior and Junior World Championships in South Africa in August.

“It’s insane I can’t fully grasp it,” Dakota said.

“She continues to inspire me day-to-day,” Merci said.

Those accomplishment continue to motivate her, molding a mindset for sport and for life.

“Her discipline carries over into just about every other aspect of her life,” Merci said.

Powerlifting gave Dakota purpose — and continues to be a cornerstone of the Courtright family.

“It’s a place where we can all just support each other,” Dakota added.

“It really brought our family closer together,” Merci mentioned.

Due to school, Dakota will not be competing at Worlds in August. She has since shifted her focus to the Mr. Olympia Deadlift Invitational in Las Vegas in September.