Joscelyne O'Brien

Strongest Woman in Canada
2025 - 4th
2024 - 

Best Lifts
Circus Dumbbell - 160lbs
Deadlift - 475lbs
Axle Clean and Press - 245lbs
Yoke for 50 feet - 750lbs

Biography
I have been doing strongman and powerlifting for almost 6 years now! I’ve also competed in Olympic weightlifting, MAS wrestling, Highland Games, and grip sport. A jack of all trades.

My coach of the last 4 years is Dorrell Petties of Generation Strength Club (GSC YYC). He’s an elite level powerlifter out of Calgary with a nearly 900# deadlift!

I got into powerlifting through a small women’s intro to strength sports clinic in early 2020 and in the spring, decided to sign up for a powerlifting meet in November. In August, a group of guys from the gym I was training at approached me to ask if I’d consider doing strongman and that Provincials was in 2 weeks and I could just sign up. Did just that and the boys guided me along and I’ve been loving it ever since.

I won my Pro Card in 2023 winning amateur Nationals as a U82kg. And have had the opportunity to compete all over North Americas and soon to be Europe as I fly to Natural Worlds in August to compete in Scotland.

I train out of a few gyms: Realm Fitness in Calgary. The Strength Edge in Calgary and United Strength in Edmonton!

I work as a Power Engineer for a refinery in Edmonton. Been rocking that style of job for the last 4 years. And love it!! Think Homer Simpson 😂

I have the honour of competing in powerlifting and strongman with my younger sister and my now husband, whom I met in strongman just before my first show! My older sister is also doing her first powerlifting meet in August.

My hobbies and passions outside of competing are small. I’m a Provincial representative for Strongman Corp Canada and a National representative for Natural Strongman. I have hosted novice competitions, Provincial qualifiers, Provincials, Nationals, and women’s Pro/Am competitions! My husband and I just purchased an acreage so you’ll find me with my farm animals in the near future.

What is your favourite lifting memory?
My favourite lifting memory is winning my Pro Card! I earned it at 2023 Amateur Nationals. The events for the show weren’t my best and the class was stacked. Any of the top 4 that year could have won. I came 2nd and 3rd in every event leading up to the last one where I WAS told I had to hit 10 reps on the 200# keg over bar in a minute to win (baring the 2 girls after me do 8 or less), and went to the buzzer to hit 10 reps at the whistle. I walked back to my bag, still waiting on 2 more athletes to go, stood in the back nervous as heck and cheering them on to do their best. Both of the last two athletes got 7 and 8 reps respectively. I broke down in tears, knowing all that hard work had finally paid off!

What is one piece of advice you have for up and coming athletes getting into strength training or strength sport?
Do it! And have fun. It doesn’t have to be that serious. Especially in the beginning.

What is your favourite lift or event?
Circus Dumbbell.

What is your favourite product and why?
10mm Belt
THE BELT! It’s very sturdy, provides flexibility and stability and looks super slick

What 3 other items are your go to and why?
Knee Sleeves
Lifting Straps
Oversized T-shirt
I love the new waffle shirt from the Serenity line. It’s comfy, soft, and feels nice to train in.

I wear my standard knee sleeves for everything strongman related. Easy to pull up with lots of support. I have smoked my old squat PRs wearing them.

The lifting straps are my go to deadlift straps. Easy for a quick on and off for fast transitions but no space like a figure 8 might have. Love mine

What colourway is your favourite and why?
Resolve
Gingers look great in dark green!  I love the shade and think it's super pretty!

Why do you believe SBD is the gear all athletes should use?
As a multi sport strength athlete, I don’t have to pick and choose brands for different sports or different events in strongman. SBD has everything in their kit to help me during training and competition.

Why do you believe in working with SBD Canada as a Sponsored Athlete?
The SBD Canada team is top notch. Frequent check ins, providing top quality products and providing help with our social media has been a great benefit! Plus I get to be apart of the strongest team in Canada! No doubt about that. It’s an honour to be amongst the greats.