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Tim Zelensky, far right, place third at powerlifting nationals in Newfoundland. (Facebook/Tim Zelensky)
achievement

Zelensky takes third at national powerlifting championships in Newfoundland

May 16, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Air Ronge’s Tim Zelensky has returned from the 2022 Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships in St. John’s, Newfoundland after winning a bronze medal.

The national competition was held from May 9-14 and Zelensky participated in the Classic 83-Kilogram Junior Division for males 19 to 23 years old. He placed third after achieving a total of 640 kg.

Zelensky squatted 210 kg, benched 170 kg and lifted 260 kg.

“I lifted 100 pounds less than last time,” he said. “I actually wasn’t even going to compete because my training was going so poorly after I got COVID, which led to a back injury. I was going to pull out of the competition, but my teammates convinced me not to because then I would have to requalify for next year and go through all the hoops again.”

At the Saskatchewan Powerlifting Association’s 2021 Provincial Championships in October 2021, Zelensky achieved 692.5 kg by squatting 240 kg, benching 167 kg and deadlifting 285 kg.

The excellent showing broke the previous record of 685 kg.

Although he didn’t perform as well as he hoped in Newfoundland, Zelensky is back in the gym and is training to qualify for the 2023 nationals. He also enjoyed the week he spent in St. John’s, noting the environment is similar to northern Saskatchewan, but has more hills and it is coastal. It was his first time visiting Eastern Canada.

“I went to a lighthouse and checked out some cliffs and stuff like that. I went down George Street,” Zelensky said. “In the end it was worth it.”

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno

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