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Lifting for Canada

A local powerlifting athlete has recently travelled to the Czech Republic to attend the IPF Men's and Women's World Championship as a competitor and as Head Coach for Team Canada.


A local powerlifting athlete has recently travelled to the Czech Republic to attend the IPF Men's and Women's World Championship as a competitor and as Head Coach for Team Canada. Ryan Fowler, who is Vice-Principal at the Weyburn Junior High, followed his passion for power-lifting to the other side of the world.


The IPF World Championship was held in the town of Pilsen, which was the original home of Pilsner-style beer. In fact, the Fowlers toured one of the country's first breweries while in Pilsen prior to a full week's training in preparation for the weekend's competitive event.


Powerlifting is a strength sport consisting of three lifts: the Squat, the Bench and the Deadlift. Divided by age and weight categories, each powerlifter gets three attempts at each lift and the total of their best Squat, Bench-Press and Deadlift are added together for the grand total that determines the winner.


Though prior to the competition he was ranked 20th, Fowler had hoped to finish within the top 15 in his weight class. He ended up placing 14th in his weight class, which is a stellar accomplishment.


Fowler was able to meet two goals within the Squat category, breaking both a personal best record and a National Record, lifting 332.5 kg, which is 2.5 kg above the previous National Record.


Within the Bench Press category, Fowler beat his own personal best, lifting 245 kg on his third press. Ryan Stinn of Team Canada broke the National Bench Press Record at 252 kg.


Fowler's Deadlift goal was 295 kg, but at the competition he was not given a pass for his attempt at 287.5 kg on his third lift.


"I'm not sold that it wasn't a good lift, but they called me on not having my shoulders back," said Fowler. "That was a disappointing end to it."


Fowler, who totalled 857.5 kg (that's 1890 lbs), is happy to have accomplished two personal bests at a World Championship. Though he plans to work on improving his Deadlift, when it comes to a World-class competition, most aspire for personal bests.


"The guy who won my weight class totalled 300 kilos more than I did," said Fowler. "Well, there's nothing I could have physically done on that day to total an extra 300 kilos. I'm not there yet."


Ryan's sister Rhaea Fowler placed 6th overall in her category and came very close to breaking a Junior World Record on her Bench Press.


Powerlifting is indeed a family tradition, as both Ryan and his wife Heidi are competitive powerlifters. Although Heidi didn't compete this year, she won Nationals in 2008 and also placed at Worlds.


According to Fowler, powerlifting is a sport that one can be involved with throughout an entire lifetime, with men's categories up to 70 and above, women's 60 and above.


"It doesn't matter how strong you are," said Fowler. "It's all about competing against yourself."


He described the powerlifting community as close-knit, noting that even the most valiant competitors want to shake hands with the rest of the lifters at the end of the day because they recognize the hard work each person has to put in to make it to a World Championship.


The calibre of athletes at a world-class event like the IPF can be a humbling experience for even a National Champion.


"It's quite an eye-opener for some," said Fowler. "But nobody can take away from you that you're a National Champion."


Indeed, Weyburn can be proud that one of its own. Mr. Fowler, who teaches Practical and Applied Arts to Grades 7 and 9 students, has worked so hard and has gained so much prestige by simply doing something he loves to do. Fowler is modest about his accomplishments but expresses deep passion for his sport.


"It defines who I am. I think about it constantly. Always thinking, reading, working on programs," said Fowler. "You know it's something you love when you never get sick of it."


Fowler encourages his students to work hard at everything they do.


"You can be as good as you want to be in anything you want to do," Fowler has told his students. "If you put the time into it and the effort, you're going to see outcomes and you're going to see results."


Fowler is glad that he can be a role model for his students. As for his dedication and proven leadership, he is indeed a role model for the entire community.


"I make no money doing this. I pay my gym membership at Olympia," said Fowler, who added that he has been a faithful member of Olympia Fitness for years and that the fully-equipped fitness centre has been very supportive of his training needs. "They're awesome."


"We love having athletes of Ryan's calibre training in our facility because of the energy and the intensity it brings. To see him be so successful makes us really proud," said Chris Michel, owner of Olympia Fitness.


Fowler created quite a stir amid gym members in the last week of training prior to his departure.


"He has five guys spotting him," said Michel. "Pretty much everyone in the gym stopped to watch him. The plates are right to the end of the bar, the bar is bending and here's this guy who's going to squat 700 pounds."


When one considers how heavy 700 pounds actually is, the light-weight everyday tasks most people whine about don't seem so insurmountable.


Fowler said he is happy with his lifting but is going to keep working on his Deadlift.


"That's what the sport is about, pushing yourself to get better and be the best you can be," said Fowler.