(Submitted/Ryan Nelson)

By Cam Lee

Bronze medal

Melfort weightlifter wins bronze at international bench press championship

May 30, 2024 | 2:40 PM

A Melfort native had a huge showing at the recent International Powerlifting Federation Bench Press Championships in Texas.

Jalen Nelson finished with a bronze medal in the 66 kg category last week, lifting 160 kg in his final attempt to secure third place.

Nelson, 23, told northeastNOW he was thrilled with the event and pleased with his performance.

“It was unbelievable. Going in there, the biggest stage I’ve stepped on, it was a good feeling being there…there (are) 60-plus countries wearing the flag…it was a pretty special feeling,” Nelson explained.

Nelson said his first lift felt a little rushed, and he didn’t have much time to prepare or get into his routine. Thankfully, he benched 147.5 kg, a weight he said he’s done many times in practice.

FSIN

Chief Bobby Cameron re-elected for fourth term as FSIN Chief

Oct 31, 2024

Economy

Economy stalled in August, Q3 growth looks to fall short of Bank of Canada estimates

Oct 31, 2024

Take a break

Hawks hope hiatus helps to turn season around

Oct 30, 2024

“The spotters and loaders there, they were working really quick so I didn’t have a lot of time to get ready,” said Nelson. “I was putting my wrist straps on pretty quick. My setup takes a little while, so I was thinking I was fighting the clock going out.”

He said he felt rushed and was a little nervous, but the nerves calmed by the time his second lift rolled around.

“I went back into the waiting area there and put my headphones on, listened to some music and just sat there until it was time for the next (lift),” Nelson said.

Nelson’s second lift at 155 kg was also successful. He’s lifted that weight several times in the gym, and he said he felt confident he could again at the championships in Austin, TX.

Nelson took some time in the waiting area before his third and final attempt, in which he successfully lifted 160 kg.

“I knew leading up to this meet that I needed to get that (160 kg) if I wanted to touch the podium. I was thinking of that number for two months.”

He said during training he had some doubts that he could lift that weight as he hadn’t done it before, but his confidence rose as he stepped into the championship and got some encouragement from his coach.

Nelson said his first experience with bench press was at the football combine during high school, when he and other players underwent various tests including sprints, vertical jumps, and bench press. His first lift was 95 lbs (43 kg) on the bar nine times, something a lot of teammates couldn’t achieve.

“I did pretty (well) considering my size, I was still small in high school.”

After the football season, Nelson began to train harder, and bench press was quickly his favourite gym exercise, with him lifting every day. By the next season he was lifting over twice the weight.

Once Nelson finished high school, he still enjoyed the competitive aspect of weightlifting and stuck with it, connecting with powerlifting coach Daniel Heintz of Bridge City Barbell in Saskatoon.

Nelson said he’s been asked by many people where he will go from here.

“That’s a question I don’t really have an answer to right now, unless I say going for second or first next time.”

–

Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK