A large number of Canadian Weightlifters converged in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain for the World Masters Weightlifting Competition held between August 17 and 25 of 2018. This Event marks the pinnacle of many of these athlete’s training and preparation. Athletes not only have to commit to securing time off to travel, but also have to meet Qualifying Totals and the approval of the Canadian National Chair in order to compete.
Our older athletes led the charge with Canadas illustrious and multiple grand champion, Marcel Perron, taking no time to capture the Gold in the M85yr/77kg Category and the Best Lifter in that age group.
Judy Quinn, being no stranger to World Championship Competitions, not only took the Gold in the W70yr/75kg Category, but broke Canadian and World Records in the process. Yves Carignan, another noteworthy athlete from Canada’s past as an Olympian, followed quickly to secure a Silver in the M65yr/62 kg Category. Ken Miller, another frequent World Masters participant took Bronze in the M70yr/62 kg Category, as did his wife, Jill Miller in the W65yr/63 kg Category.
The Canadian contingent was honoured to have one of its athletes being inducted into the World Masters Hall of Fame. Manon Poulin entered the Masters in 1999 at the Canadian and Pan-American Masters Championship in Ontario, Canada and followed the events to the end of the year with her gold, silver and Bronze medals as well as various national and world titles, national and international records. Manon Poulin has certainly become a weightlifting legend. At this year’s World Masters, Manon succeeded in winning a Silver in the W55yr/63kg Category.
A number of the Canadian Women were awarded Best Lifter in their age categories: Isabelle Gauthier, Gold in the W45yr/58kg with Canadian Snatch (67 kg) and Total (154 kg) Records and Abigail Guerrero-Gonzales, Gold in the W40yr/58kg with Canadian Snatch (71 kg), Clean and Jerk (80 kg) and Total (151 kg) Records. In the W40yr/+90kg Category, Karine Brouillard took the Bronze, Manon Croteau in the W50yr/58 kg Category took the Gold and Best Lifter as well as the Canadian Snatch (54 kg), Clean and Jerk (68 kg) and Total (122 kg) Records.
Though the Men represented 11 of the Canadian group of 29 athletes, their accomplishments were quite notable. In the Male 45yr Category the 77 kg Claude Caouette took a Bronze and Eric Chevrier in the 94 kg Category secured a Silver. Andre Dionne in the M60yr/85 kg Category also was awarded a Silver medal.
The youngest of our Canadian athletes, our Women and Men in the 35-age group, wrapped up the competition on its last day. The sessions were off to a good start with Caroline Mundell’s Bronze finish in the W35yr/58 kg Category. The Womens 35yr/75 kg Category saw Beth Kostur achieving fourth position and breaking the Canadian Snatch (73 kg) and Total (157 kg) Records. Justin Ott in the M35yr/94 kg Category captured the Bronze Medal. In the Mens 35yr/105 kg Category, it was so close for Rafal Korkowski as he was only one kilogram short of breaking the Snatch record and indeed tied the Clean and Jerk Record to take home the Silver Medal.
Our other athletes, who may not have medalled, fared very well personally in their results: Heather Cameron, Chris Crotty, Raghbir Dhaliwal (4th), Heather Emslie, Sylvie Guenette (4th), Greg Haspect, Melanie Johnson, Paaras Kaur, Eva Martens, Tanna Payne, and Kirsten Riewe. Due to family circumstances, we were sad that Heather Admundred could not participate. We wish her all the best.
Canadians won 17 Medals:5 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze placing Canada in 8th position. Canadian Marcel Perron captured the overall best lifter, also referred to as Grand Master, with 488.48 SMM points, 75 points ahead of the next competitor. Isabelle Gauthier missed Best Womens Lifter by just 2 SMM points. Bravo Canada!! The Women’s Team of Isabelle Gauthier, Abigail Guerrero Gonzalez. Karine Brouillard, Caroline Mundell, Beth Kostur, Manon Croteau, Manon Poulin and Judy Quinn took First Place over the Americans and especially the Australians who traditionally always win these Team challenges. Our Men’s Team did a fine showing placing 6th overall, just two places behind the Americans.
On behalf of our Board of Directors of the Canadian Masters Weightlifting Federation Haltérophilie Canadienne and our members, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of our determined and dedicated athletes. We hope to see them all at next years World Masters in Montréal.