63-year-old Sask. powerlifter achieves world championship gold in Poland

Wayne Cormier caught his white whale.

The 63-year-old powerlifter from Swift Current, Sask., approximately 225 kilometres west of Regina, reached the top of the GPC World Championships podium for the first time in his over-50-year career.

"It's been a flood of emotions," Cormier said.

He overcame a heart attack in May and went on to win three gold medals and a bronze in his fifth world championship appearance. After calling the pursuit his obsession, Cormier said he didn't allow the emotions of the moment to overwhelm him until his final competition was over.

"I went back into the athletes' waiting area … and then just sat there by myself for probably a good half hour," he said.

"That's when everything started to sink in. Some of the emotions. Lots of the memories started flooding back out of nowhere, going back 50 years and some of the highlights over the years."

63-year-old Sask. powerlifter overcomes heart attack to attend world championships

Cormier took home gold medals in the male masters 125kg category for equipped powerlifting, raw powerlifting and equipped bench press. He won bronze in raw bench press.

He added Canadian records in his category for the raw bench press and equipped bench press.

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Cormier's best previous result at the world championships was a bronze medal almost 30 years ago.

"He put in the hours, he pushed through the setbacks, and he achieved a lifelong goal," said Cassandra Crozier, Cormier's nutritionist. "I know he’ll come back with a new goal on his mind. He’s an inspiration to all of us in the sport."

Wayne