The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) will be hosting their 2022 Masters World Championships this year in St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada from October 7th to the 15th. In previous years, the Masters World Championships only had the equipped division and the classic masters were part of the Classic World Championships. But recently, the IPF has been making a move to having combined classic and equipped world championships, so this will be the first year where the masters will be together.
The championships will be five days of classic lifting followed by three days of equipped lifting, and some athletes will be competing in both. Here are some athletes to watch in each of the classic championships.
Women’s Classic Masters I
Arguably the greatest classic powerlifter of all time, Kimberly Walford, will be competing in this championship in the 76 kg class. Having already won a number of world titles and broken a number of world records, we expect her to add to her extensive resume with another world title and several more world records.
Women’s Classic Masters II
Christine Rebello has competed in the masters I world championship twice before but wasn’t able to podium. However, she’s continued to improve her total over the years and is now the top nominated athlete in the masters II 57 kg class. Look for her to win the world title and possibly come away with the masters II best lifter award.
Women’s Classic Masters III
Inger Blikra has been competing in powerlifting since the 1980s on the equipped side and then started competing in the classic as well when it was created in the 2000s. She has already won the masters II world title in 2019 and the masters III world title in 2021 in the 84 kg class. Look for her to add another masters world title to her long list of accomplishments and possibly the masters III best lifter award as well.
Women’s Classic Masters IV
Look for Instagram favorite, Shelly Stettner, to put on a show in her first-ever international championship. In addition, you can watch Anne Mari Clausen who’s the oldest athlete on the women’s side having been born in 1942!
Men’s Classic Masters I
In the 93 kg class, we’ll see the return of Layne Norton on the international stage battling it out with Gabriel Garcia from Mexico for the world title. In addition, look for LS McClain to put on a big performance in the 105 kg class and win another world title.
Men’s Classic Masters II
Look for a trio of Canadians to represent their country well on home soil in the masters II championship. In the 83 kg class, Tom Kean will be in a close battle with Ken Bray from USA. In the 93 kg class, the championship director himself, Jeff Butt, will be battling it out with Alejandro Rodriguez Acuna from Spain. And then Scott Robertson looks to be a heavy favorite in the 120 kg class.
Men’s Classic Masters III
Once again, we get none other than Superman himself in the masters III championship. Dave “Superman” Ricks will be competing in the 93 kg class where we’re sure he’ll set a number of new world records and come away with another world title to add to his collection.
Men’s Classic Masters IV
Watch out for another Instagram favorite, John LaFlamme, to put on a show in the 83 kg class. We expect him to break a number of world records, win the masters IV best lifter award, and he may even total more than his masters III 83 kg counterparts.
For more information about the championships, you can check out the championship site at: https://sites.google.com/view/2022masterworlds/
In addition, you can watch the lifting live at: http://goodlift.info/live.php