Sylvia Atkinson

IPF Master Classic World Championship
2023 - 76kg - Gold
2022 - 76kg - 5th

CPU Master Classic National Championship
2023 - 76kg - Gold
2022 - 76kg - Silver
2020 - 72kg - Gold

Best Lifts
Classic Squat - 185.5kg
Classic Bench Press - 85kg
Classic Deadlift - 200kg
Classic Total - 466.5kg

Biography
I've been competing for 5 years and started my powerlifting journey at the age of 45 years young. What started as a weight loss journey turned into finding my true strength potential.

I discovered my passion for lifting heavy when I took a class at Lifetime Fitness in Mississauga. My coach, Jacob Danque noticed my dedication to this discipline and suggested to "train for something." My partner for years encouraged me to lift heavy and I decided to finally take a leap. In 2018, I started training and entered my 1st Powerlifting Competition and WON!! Since then I have competed in 11 meets. My 19 year old daughter is my biggest fan and has been to all but 2 of my competitions. Five years later and at the age of 50, I have won four gold medals at the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Masters Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on October 10, 2023! It has been a great honour to represent Canada at that level, on a global stage.

Being a World Champion at the age of 50 is a dream come true, but also feeling grateful to have a strong healthy body that allows me to excel in powerlifting to the extent of holding world records in the squat and deadlift disciplines. One of the greatest moments in my powerlifting journey is being 1 of 2 women ever to break the 1,000-pound mark (combining the weights of her lifts in squat, bench and deadlift) at the age of 50 in my weight class.

Age is really just a number. It's never too late and never too old to try something new. Keep dreaming. Keep building to your goal, stay committed and you might find that where you get to is even better than your initial goal!

What is your favourite lifting memory?
Breaking the Squat and Deadlift World Records in 2023.

What is one piece of advice you have for up and coming athletes getting into strength training or strength sport?
Find what sparks you! Once you find your passion and train with a purpose, you will be committed to the journey that awaits you!

What is your favourite lift or event?
Squats have become my favorite lift. Initially, I feared overcoming the challenge of getting out of the hole. Over time, not only did I gain physical strength, but my confidence also grew, leading to significant personal development.

What is your favourite product and why?
10mm Belt
I love the new 10mm belt as I find it more comfortable to train in, can hit depth with more ease when squatting and feel more confident when training to unprecedented peaks in my program.

What colourway is your favourite and why?
Eclipse
The Eclipse colourway was the first women's cut singlet I purchased. I love how it fits all my curves, making me feel comfortable and at my best. As an extra bonus, I won my first National title wearing this line, so it holds special memories to me.

Why do you believe SBD is the gear all athletes should use?
SBD is not only the leader in producing high quality strength training products but also promotes the SBD mindset of Strength, Belief, Determination which are inspiring words to all and aligns with my persona!

Why do you believe in working with SBD Canada as a Sponsored Athlete?
SBD is the pinnacle of quality which brings me confidence when competing on the platform and on training days!  I also have confidence in SBD because they reciprocate that belief in me. As a visible minority and a master lifter, their recognition makes me feel truly seen. This highlights the remarkable nature of the brand and underscores the importance of representation.

Photo Credits: Profile Picture-Sylvia Atkinson; Squat-LVD; Deadlift-White Lights Media