"Then I had a serious injury which meant I couldn't run. I changed to body building because I didn't need to run. Powerlifting progressed from there."
Powerlifting combines three weight lifting disciplines; squats, dead-lifts and the bench press.
Katene definitely has a preference. "Bench is my strength and my favourite."
Katene will be competing in the Masters 1 Under 72kg competition, a popular field.
"There will be about 30 other lifters in my division; it's the most competitive one."
Katene knows the odds are against her as she takes on more experienced power lifters.
"I'm realistic, but confident. I've had less than two years in the sports and I'm going up against people with 20 plus years of experience," she said.
"I'm hoping to break a couple of New Zealand records."
Outside of her powerlifting, she runs Fit Club Ngunguru.
This has both a positive and negative impact on her training.
"Having my own gym has been helpful. I can work out while I work as I am an athlete first," she said.
"However, it can put me at a disadvantage to those I'm competing with as they are pure athletes. They don't have to work."
She said it is the nature of what professional sport is like in New Zealand, as many athletes here have to work to fund their athletic career.
"It is what it is."
Katene has also started a powerlifting club at Fit Club.
The championships start in Killeen, Texas, on Monday morning NZ time.
