(Submitted photo/Jalen Nelson)

By Ben Tompkins

Strong Man

Melfort native takes fourth at Bench Press World Championships

May 27, 2025 | 5:37 PM

Weightlifter Jalen Nelson, a native of Melfort, had another successful showing at the International Powerlifting Federation World Championships this past week.

Nelson grabbed fourth place in Drammen, Norway, this year, after earning a bronze medal last year in Austin, Texas.

“It was really good this year, obviously last year I got bronze, but I did a bit lighter. Last year I did 160 (kilograms) for my third attempt, and I did 165 (kilograms) this year. Just making all three lifts was a big win for me, as well as hitting a number in competition that I never had before, it felt great. I was fighting for third place and was in that spot until Georgia came out and got third and bumped me down a spot. Just hitting those lifts under pressure, though, it feels really good knowing I needed it or else I wasn’t gonna get what I wanted, so I’m proud of myself for that,” he told northeastNOW.

Nelson competed in the Men’s Open category in the 66kg section. He had lifts of 155, 160 and 165kgs.

His second appearance at the world championships at the age of 24, the now local of Saskatoon didn’t even know if he was going to be able to attend the event in the first place.

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A GoFundMe was set up prior to his departure for the tournament and raised $1,250.

“That meant everything because I wouldn’t have been able to go if it wasn’t for the help that I got from that and those close to me,” Nelson added.

“Once I found out that enough money had been raised, I was pretty excited that I’d be able to do something like this again. Also, just going to it for a second time, I felt comfortable and calm with the whole process and just confident in my training leading up to it. I knew it was the best competition I could face, so I knew I had to be locked in and serious about it, so just knowing what I was up against helped me know what I needed to do.”

Nelson does specific workouts five days a week and benches every single day.

Following the tournament, which ran May 17-25th, he is already back to benching and is likely to next compete in Westerns in Nanaimo, B.C.

While Nelson has not yet confirmed that he will in fact be competing at Worlds next year, he’s sure that once it comes around again, he’ll be putting forth all his focus towards the event.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonemdia.com

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