owerlifter Frances Manias collected her first international gold medal during the 2015 Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation’s Bi-Annual Championships in Vancouver, B.C.
Manias was competing in her second international powerlifting contest for Team Canada. This is also the second sport in which she has represented her country, having previously competed for the Canadian Bodybuilding Federation in seven World Championships between 1998 and 2008.
Manias took home the bronze medal overall out of a strong field of Masters I (40-49 years of age) 63-kilogram division athletes. Her 127.5-kilogram squat was good enough for an individual bronze and her 152.5 -kilogram deadlift was the best in the division.
Manias also bench-pressed 75 kilograms. With her final deadlift attempt of 157.5 kilograms, she had the opportunity to secure a gold medal overall, but was not able to complete the lift. Despite missing the final lift, Manias’ total of 355 kilograms was only 3.5 kilograms off the silver medal and five kilograms off of the gold.
Manias is president and founder of Dundas Valley Power, one of thirty Ontario Powerlifting Association teams.
Joanna Rieber of Ancaster, who is also a Dundas Valley Power athlete, competed in the Open Women’s 52-kilogram category, winning with a personal best squat of 127.5 kilograms, an 85-kilogram bench press and a personal best deadlift of 152.5 kilograms. Rieber is one of Canada’s top five female powerlifters, having attained prowess after only two years of competing.
Manias and Rieber, along with three other Dundas Valley Power team members, are currently preparing for the 2016 Canadian Powerlifting Nationals, Feb. 15-20 in Regina, Sask. Joining them will be Linda McFeeters of Binbrook, Kim Milani of Hamilton and Julie Ditzend of Kitchener. Each lifter is gunning for a spot to represent the country at the International Powerlifting Federation World Championships in June 2016.
Powerlifting athletes compete in three lifts — squat, bench press and deadlift. After three attempts of each lift, the athlete with the highest cumulative total weight lifted is determined the winner. Powerlifting athletes compete in a number of sanctioned events, including various world championships and the quadrennial World Games.
Courtesy of: Hamilton News