Tofino RCMP member wins silver in bench press in Kazakhstan

Tofino RCMP Cpl. Gregory Younger doesn’t should throw his weight round when heading right into a furry state of affairs.In reality, he usually doesn’t should say a lot in any respect.

At six-foot-one and 370 kilos, the soft-spoken Younger is a fairly imposing sight.

“I feel it helps to defuse issues earlier than they get out of hand,” he says. “I assume it’s a type of issues the place in case you’re large and powerful, you don’t must do or say something. It simply type of works itself out.”

He thinks his dimension can assist reassure these needing assist, together with being calm and selecting his phrases correctly. “It’s vital as a police officer to be bodily match and be succesful and competent in your talents.”

In relation to bodily health, Younger has that in spades. He lately returned to obligation after profitable a silver medal by lifting 545.6 kilos on the World Bench Press Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

He competes within the super-heavyweight class for these weighing greater than 264 kilos and now has his sights set on gold.

The current journey was a household affair. Younger’s mom, Barbara, who helped with group, and father, Terry, who gained a gold in his age group by urgent 292 kilos, attended the Could 21-29 occasion as properly.

“It’s fairly cool that we do this collectively. I feel that’s actually distinctive and one thing that not lots of people get to do.”

When Younger goes to the provincial competitors this month, his spouse, Asia, will likely be competing, too — in bench press in addition to powerlifting.

They met in a fitness center on Quadra Island. Assembly Asia, who helps coach her husband and gives recommendation, “might be the very best a part of my lifting profession, to be sincere with you.”

Raised in Newfoundland, Younger cherished sports activities rising up. He wrestled, along with his dad — a world masters energy lifting champion in 1995 — as his coach. “At the back of my thoughts, my plan was at all times to observe my dad’s footsteps.”

Younger earned a science diploma on the College of Guelph, the place he competed in energy lifting, and joined the RCMP after college. Earlier than Tofino, he served on Quadra Island and Nanaimo.

Again points pressured Younger to take day off and when he recuperated, he took up the bench press. Checking outcomes from competitions, he noticed he might compete on the world degree, and determined in 2018 to return to competitors. “If I actually consider I’m that good, I ought to put myself on the stage and check myself in opposition to the very best guys on this planet.”

The subsequent yr, he gained the open tremendous heavyweight class within the Canadian nationwide competitors in Ottawa.

From there, he went to the world championships in Tokyo, the place he positioned fourth, then gained his class on the Commonwealth championships in 2019 in Newfoundland.

The pandemic disrupted competitions. However in 2021, Younger went to the world championships in Vilnius, Lithuania, and positioned third.

On this sport, opponents are on their backs on the bench, ready for the OK to start out. Athletes take the bar, pause it on their chests, then maintain it up with arms absolutely prolonged till the referee says to cease.

It’s not simply in regards to the weight, however about technique and velocity, Younger says. Rivals consider their opponents as they take turns and determine which quantity they’ll purpose for. Velocity issues as a result of it’s simpler to carry one thing rapidly than slowly.

Younger trains 4 days per week for 3 and a half to 4 hours in his residence fitness center. He stated he avoids over-complicated exercises however does incorporate selection in strategies, actions and depth in routines. “I feel the fundamentals work. I feel onerous work works.”

Younger says he’s an “extraordinarily pushed particular person” and enjoys being lively and aggressive.

“The joys of hitting a giant quantity … I can’t even clarify it. It’s an unimaginable feeling. It’s enjoyable to check your self.”

Though Younger is essentially self-coached, he retains in shut contact along with his father and the 2 plan coaching methods.

“He’s been a lifelong affect on me and steered me in the suitable path.” His circle of relatives in Tofino is “super-supportive,” as properly.

On the day of competitors, the “large factor is making an attempt to only not do something out of the unusual. Simply ensure you have a very good sleep, you keep hydrated, you’re stuffed with electrolytes and good gas.”

In Kazakhstan, that meant a quiet day and a pre-game steak earlier than heading to the occasion.

He selected to try for 545.5 lbs, which he completed. His physique moved out of place in his second try at 551 lbs, in order that didn’t rely, and on the third attempt he didn’t get a full extension when capturing for 573 lbs. That meant the primary try counted. A French competitor gained the occasion with 567.7 lbs.

Now that he’s turning 40 this yr, Younger might compete within the masters age bracket. However most of his opponents are of their 20s and he’s decided to remain within the open class with its broader vary of ages for now.

“I felt that the open will likely be more difficult. I really need to compete in opposition to the very best folks on this planet, not simply the very best folks in my age group.”

cjwilson@timescolonist.com