Jean-Luc Fafard is presented a gold medal at the regional competition. (Submitted photo/Ruth Fafard)

By Derek Cornet

sports

Powerlifter earns gold at regional championship

Sep 14, 2022 | 4:08 PM

La Ronge’s Jean-Luc Fafard was a gold medal winner at the Eastern Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships this past weekend in Moncton, New Brunswick.

He competed in the 83-kilogram junior category and he placed first after scoring 225 kg in the squat, 135 kg on the bench, and a deadlift of 247.5 kg for a total of 607.5 kg. He had three attempts on each lift.

There were five competitors in his category, and the second-place participant was only five kilograms less than what Fafard scored.

“It was pretty close and, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting to get gold,” he said. “I have only been in this age category for nine months now. I just entered the junior division in January. Obviously, I am competing against people much older than me, and much more experienced. I thought I might have a chance getting on the podium, but I ended up getting gold, so it turned out really well.”

Fafard, who recently moved to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan, had been training with fellow powerlifter Tim Zelensky at his Air Ronge gym called Mongrel Barbell. Fafard explained he was training five or six days per week to prepare for regionals.

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There are three regionals across Canada and powerlifters must at least compete in one for a chance to make it to nationals. Fafard missed the deadline for the western championships, which is why he traveled with his mother, Ruth, to New Brunswick.

Fafard is now preparing for the national championship expected to be held Feb. 13-18, 2023, in Vancouver. He noted the training will become higher intensity, but added he might also need to give his left shoulder a break.

“I could have benched probably another 20 kg, but there’s something wrong with my shoulder,” Fafard said. “I think I need to isolate it a bit more. It’s not as strong as my right shoulder and it was very evident with the higher attempt. I just need to do higher intensity training these next few months.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno