Powerlifting to provincial titles in Burnaby

More than 250 registered athletes from all over BC, ranging in ages from nine to 70, lifted bars and weights in search of glory at the 2025 Provincial Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.

The gym at Burnaby’s Christine Sinclair Community Centre was turned into a powerlifting showcase from May 30 to June 1 in the largest provincial championship to date for the British Columbia Powerlifting Association (BCPA).

“The athletes are competing to see who is the strongest in the province,” says Jen Luther Thomas, president of the BCPA. “This is a high-level competition.” The athletes, divided into age, gender and weight categories, competed on two platforms. The winners go onto regional, national and international events.

This is the second time in Burnaby for this event. “It’s a very spacious venue,” describes Luther Thomas. “We have a lot of room to set up for the main competition area with spectators, separated from the warm-up area.” With the majority of BCPA members being from the Lower Mainland, she says Burnaby is also a convenient spot to host the event.

The powerlifting at this competition is different from what takes place at the Olympic Games weightlifting events where athletes lift the bars over their heads.  “Here, everyone is doing the squat, the bench and the deadlift,” says Luther Thomas. Some of the athletes will lift as much as 300 kilograms. “It’s a lot of weight.”

Anyone can powerlift she says. “You get a lot of different types of people at this event. It’s a big community.”

More than 150 volunteers supported the three-day event.

Photo Credits

Photos: Sam Corea

Additional Information:

For more sport stories visit here.