The Western District Barbell Club is celebrating a rich haul of gold, silver and bronze.
The club, which recently sent five of its members to the International Powerlifting Federation’s world championships in Johannesburg, has much to celebrate after its competitors brought home nine medals, three world records and one world champion.
Tamara Navarro, Kerri-Anne Cauchi and Stephen Pritchard, Andrew Tang and John Paul Cauchi made the cut for South Africa after achieving A-grade, or elite II, standard at national level.
John Paul was named junior world 66-kilogram champion after scoring three gold medals and breaking the deadlift open-age record.
Pritchard, 42, broke two masters world records. Kerri-Anne scored one silver and two bronze medals and a world ranking of three in the 52-kilogram sub-junior category.
Navarro won a silver in the 57-kilogram junior squat event. Tang was disqualified after missing all three deadlifts.
“We did very, very well,” Tang said. “It was mixed results for everyone, but we brought back a ton of medals.
“I didn’t have the best of days … but it provides fuel for the future.”
The five lifters were part of a team of 30 Australians.
Powerlifting requires three attempts at hoisting weights in three lifts: squat, bench press and deadlift.
The Western District Barbell Club, which trains at CrossFit Rise Up in Sunshine, has been running for the past year and has more than 60 members. Members hope to open their own gym in Ravenhall later this year.
Details: westerndistrictbarbell@gmail.com
