All elite athletes carry a significant load—but for some, it’s not just figurative but a literal reality. Ethan Akerman is one of those athletes, emerging as a rising star in competitive powerlifting.
Always drawn to sports with a physical edge—whether it was hockey, football, lacrosse, or rugby—the 21-year-old from Milton first ventured into weight training in grade 11 at Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School.
“The course was something I enjoyed right from the start, and my potential soon became clear,” Akerman recalls. “Near the end of the semester, I asked the coach if I could test my squat strength and ended up lifting around 440 pounds.” For someone who’d just begun training, that was an impressive feat; most beginners, if fortunate, might manage somewhere in the 300-pound range.
From that early glimpse of his potential, Akerman kept pushing himself. His hard work led to an overall weight-class win in his competitive debut in June 2022 in Belleville, followed by podium finishes in all but one of his next seven meets.
In his most recent triumph, Akerman clinched second place in the junior 260-pound class at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation Championships in Sun City, South Africa. There, he delivered a golden performance in the bench press with a personal best of 413 pounds. He also surpassed his previous record in the deadlift with a 672-pound lift to take silver, while his 617-pound squat earned him a bronze medal.
“I had a good sense of how I’d perform, but I still surprised myself,” Akerman shared. “I usually hit personal bests in competition, and the last few months of training really paid off.” Remarkably, he’s achieved these milestones despite only half as much competitive experience as the Scottish lifter who took the all-around title.
For Akerman, the secret to powerlifting success is straightforward: commit to a solid program and stick with it. “Sometimes it’s tough, but I keep myself accountable by finding a friend to train with whenever possible,” he explained. “Even if no one’s available, I’ll still go. It’s a part of my day I can’t skip, and if I miss it, I feel worse than if I go.”
Looking ahead, Akerman has set his sights on the Canadian championships in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, in late February. After placing fourth as the youngest competitor at last year’s nationals in B.C., he’s determined to bring home top honors this time around.
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