Over 500 athletes from 15 countries will be coming to the Richmond Olympic Oval next week for the Commonwealth Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.
Hosted by the B.C. Powerlifting Association, Canada is expected to have its largest international team ever with 100 competitors. They will arrange from Sub-Junior (14-18-years of age) through Masters (over 70).
Among them will be Richmond’s own Pamela Anderson. The 22-year-old will be competing in the junior category 52kg weight class. Powerlifting since 2011, the computer engineering student will be looking to surpass her personal best in the squat (264 lbs), bench (150.5 lbs) and deadllift (330 lbs), in her pursuit of a gold medal. Anderson currently hold the Canadian junior deadlift record.
Powerlifting is an individualized sport in which competitors attempt to lift as much weight as possible for one repetition each in the squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Each lifter is classified by variables including gender, weight class and age group. Further subdivisions are made between “classic” and “equipped” powerlifters, indicating whether or not the individual is wearing supportive equipment during the competition.
Every lifter is allowed three attempts at each lift, making for a total of nine competition lifts throughout the day.
A lifter’s total is determined by the sum of his/her best lifts, and the individual with the highest total is considered the all-around strongest lifter in his/her division. All athletes are subject to drug testing both in and out of contest. Doping testing is carried out by the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport (CCES) in accordance with World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines – also used by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Commonwealth Powerlifting and Benchpress Championships are held biennially in the winter of the championship year.
The competition starts Tuesday. Spectators are welcomed. Entry to the event is by donation with proceeds supporting the BCPA’s work in furthering the sport in BC.
