A Portage la Prairie powerlifter stepped up to the world stage for a first time recently.

Vince Green, 45, represented Canada at the 2017 IPF Classic Bench Press World Championships in Kileen, Texas from April 16-22. Green, who trains out of his home in Portage, finished sixth-place in his division with a top lift of 180 kilograms (396 pounds).

"My goal was top-5 going in and I finished sixth, but I'm pretty happy considering it was my first world championship," Green said, noting he fell just 2.5 kg short of a top-5 placement. " The competition was a lot stiffer than I thought it would be."

Green earned his spot on the Canadian team with a third-place finish at Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) Nationals in Regina, Sask., in February 2016. Having attended multiple weight-lifting events in Manitoba and across Canada prior to qualifying for the 2017 IPF Worlds, Green has plenty of experience in the sport. But training for this was different, because it focused on a single exercise, the bench press. Normally, he does events that also include squats and deadlifts.

"For the past six months leading into the competition, I pretty much just did bench press and accessory exercises that would help my bench," Green explained. "It was definitely a different routine than normal."

An inspiring part of being at the world championships for Green -- a moment fans of the Olympic games can all understand -- was being able to see the medal ceremonies which included the playing of the national anthem of the gold medallist.

He wasn't on the podium this time. But Green intends to keep at his craft and attend the 2018 CPU Nationals in Calgary, Alta.

The hope is, at next year's IPF World Championships, he'll get to hear 'O Canada.'