Karina H - Competition Update
Many of you might be wondering how Karina H did at her latest Powerlifting competition. She has graciously shared this update with us.
Competition Feb 23 and Feb 24, 2024
Thank you to all who supported this competition. This Meet was the largest and most successful ever in Calgary for the last four years, put on by One For All Fitness, Meet Director Alex Saretsky. Karina says this was the most grueling competition she has ever experienced. But it was redeemed at the end.
She says she gained too much weight for her frame and arrived with slightly high blood pressure. Karina has been in four weight classes in four years which has meant both gaining and losing weight. “I’ve gained and lost 10 pounds five times now,” she says. “The gaining is always so much easier than the losing.” However, this means Karina is the only Canadian powerlifting athlete with Raw Canada to have National records in four weight classes and same age class. This competition she weighed in at 59.1kg, then drank approximately a liter of water, and made the second weight class by one twentieth of a kilogram!
Friday evening was difficult. Karina lifted a World strict curl at 70 pounds, but it was disqualified for hitching. She says it hurt to succeed and yet have the lift disqualified, worse than just not making the lift at all. Coach Saretsky says this is inspiring, she did a “gym lift of 70 pounds, and next time she will get Worlds.” Karina ended strict curl with a National record at 65 pounds. Blake aced his curl for a National record of 126.5 pounds (approximately 80 percent of his body weight).
Next day started difficult. Karina was one of only a handful of athletes registered for four lifts. Squat did not go as planned and Karina got a “failed lift” on her second attempt. The bar did not get racked properly and the Judge yelled out. This left Karina rather rattled. She tried desperately to shift her mindset to be able to successfully continue with Benchpress and Deadlift.
Daughter Jule and son Xander helped immensely with compassionate listening. Godmother (Sponsor from Feb 19 2023 Baptism) Margaret and friend Ellie prayed. Bench went much better for a National record at 93.5 pounds. But still an underperformance for Karina. She went on to be Assistant Coach for Blake. He did amazing with a National Benchpress of 210 pounds (for a 17 year old young man). This was his first powerlifting competition, and Karina’s first time as an Assistant Coach.
By Deadlift, Karina was frustrated. Coach Saretsky says, “take your anger out on the bar.” Karina told herself, “This bar has only one place to go, and that is Up!” She feels she “redeemed” her competition with a 90 kg (198 pounds) deadlift, first time ever, for a National record.
Karina ended the competition by winning best female Masters and three National records. Blake won best Junior strict curl, best Junior Bench press and two National records.
Thank you to everyone for your support!
Karina says “start practicing your pushups for Camp Kasota!”
To see other news items, please visit our Life of the Church post.
