Winnipeg woman, 62, wins gold at world masters powerlifting championship

A Winnipeg woman who won gold at a world powerlifting championship over the weekend says she started strength training later in life as a way to keep up with her grandchildren.

Although Gail-Ann Breese, 62, stayed active throughout her life, she began to feel sluggish in her late 50s and went on the hunt for ways to gain energy. She stuck to various forms of cardio but never considered strength training until a friend mentioned it and directed Breese to a trainer.

"Certainly when I started it, I had no idea that I would end up as the world champion powerlifter," she told host Marcy Markusa during a Tuesday interview with CBC's Information Radio.

"I'm riding a bit of a high these last few days."

Breese's trainer educated her about bone density and muscle loss that comes after mid-life, she says, and that strength training can help counteract it. Together, they formed a fitness plan for Breese.

She attended her first powerlifting meet in December 2019 — an all-day event including including three squat lift, bench press and deadlift attempts.

"I remember when I first went out on the platform, [I thought] 'Oh please don't fall flat on your face,'" said Breese.

She would go on to qualify for powerlifting meets provincially, nationally and in western Canada, leading her to join Team Canada at the World Classic & Equipped Masters Powerlifting Championships in St. John's, where 520 athletes from 30 countries competed earlier this month.

Breese says she was one of four Manitoban women to compete in the world championship, where she won two gold medals — one for the deadlift and one for weight lifted overall, after lifting a total of 700 pounds over three categories. She also won a silver medal in the squat lift category and a