A local athlete took home gold at the powerlifting Nationals in Winnipeg earlier this week. Paige Kernot was born and raised in Portage la Prairie and has been training in the sport of powerlifting since 2016. She was aware for the last two years that the Nationals in 2020 would take place in Winnipeg so she has been preparing since she found out. Kernot describes how surreal it was to finish in first place in the weight class of 72Kg from ages 19-23.

"Honestly, two years ago this is what I wanted I just genuinely did not think it would actually happen," says Kernot. "I won by 35 kilograms so that's like a little over 70 pounds between me and the second place girl. I'm still just in shock about it, I just can't believe it."

Kernot notes she was very familiar with many of the volunteers and spotters in the building just from training around Winnipeg. She says this made it even more exciting to win with so many people she knew able to witness the victory.

She adds there were a few lifters absent from the competition who may have made it a little tougher on her but she says that doesn't take away from her accomplishment.

Kernot gives some details on what a powerlifting competition looks like.

"In the actual competition it goes squat, bench, and then deadlift," says Kernot. "You have three attempts at each one of those lifts, so in total, you lift nine times. It's actually pretty intense, the way it works, you have up until a certain time before you lift to change the first number (of weight) that you're going to lift."

She also adds you only have a minute between attempts and there are plenty more rules and regulations as well.

Kernot is now heavily considering the possibility of attending the powerlifting Worlds in Belarus in a few months time.