Dryden powerlifter Trevor Campbell making a record-setting 585.3 lb. deadlift at Calgary’s 100% Raw Powerlifting Federation national meet, this past July. Photo submitted

Local powerlifter Trevor Campbell’s name found its way into the record books this past July at a national powerlifting competition in Calgary.

Campbell set a world and national record within the 100% Raw Powerlifting Federation’s deadlift category — completing a deadlift of 265.5 kg (585.3 lbs.) in his 82.5 kg weight class and open age division.

Endlessly wary of ‘tooting his own horn’, Campbell says he enjoys the sport for the personal challenge and the satisfaction of achieving strength goals.

“After every meet, the motivation to get back to the gym and do better than you did last time is quite high compared with just going to the gym and not really having a goal,” he said.

Weight training since his teens, he’s been competing in powerlifting for two years, and has won his weight division (167-181 lbs.) in the last five competitions he’s entered.

But he doesn’t expect his record deadlift to stand for very long. He says it’s important to have fellow powerlifters in his division constantly pushing the upper limits.

“I think there’s a guy in Southern Ontario who will probably get it (record) this week,” said Campbell. “So, I like to get it back somehow. I’d like to see the record go to 600 lbs. this week. That’s my next goal, I think. I’m hoping to get to a ‘comfortable 600’ by maybe Christmas. Fifteen pounds can take a long time.”

Getting there takes a lot of training. Campbell spends a lot of time alongside fellow powerlifters Alex McCauley and Joe Baxter at the Dryden Rec Centre.

“The Rec Centre has been really good,” he says. “They haven’t come down too hard on me about all the chalk — which you can’t really do without. They’ve been very nice that way.”

An enthusiastic promoter of the sport, Campbell says the atmosphere is always friendly and supportive. He invites anyone interested in the sport to find out more.

“It’s not all about trying to beat the other guy,” he says “It is more about trying to beat your own personal best and help others do their best. It is a very helpful and inviting sport to get into.”

He says he’s very impressed by the exploits of one of the local powerlifting community’s younger members, Adam Swientek.

“He’s just getting started but I think he’s got a bright future — he’s only 18 years-old, but he’s incredibly strong,” said Campbell. “It’ll be neat to see where he goes.

By Chris Marchand