At 68 years old, Mava Brydges put the weight of a household refrigerator on her back, lowered herself toward the floor, and then stood up again - all while competing at the Canadian Powerlifting Championships in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Brydges delivered another commanding performance at the Sheraton Hotel, demonstrating why she remains one of Canada's most inspiring athletic stories. Her bench press technique, captured during the championships, showcased the precision and power that have made her a legend in the powerlifting community.
A Champion's Dedication
Brydges embodies the spirit of competitive powerlifting with her unwavering commitment to the sport she loves. "I live for the clang of the weights," she has been quoted as saying, a sentiment that perfectly captures her passion for the demanding discipline of powerlifting.
The Canadian Powerlifting Championships provided the perfect stage for Brydges to showcase her remarkable abilities. Despite being in her late sixties, she continues to compete at the highest levels of the sport, setting records and inspiring fellow athletes across all age groups.
Breaking Barriers at Every Age
Powerlifting consists of three main lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. For Brydges, each movement represents not just a test of physical strength, but a demonstration of the mental fortitude required to excel in competitive athletics well beyond traditional retirement age.
Her performance at the championships highlighted the technical precision required in powerlifting. The squat movement she performed - lowering a refrigerator's worth of weight and returning to standing position - requires not only tremendous strength but also perfect form, balance, and years of dedicated training.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Brydges's achievements extend far beyond her personal records. She has become a powerful advocate for older adults in athletics, proving that competitive sports need not be the exclusive domain of younger athletes. Her presence at championships and training facilities serves as living proof that dedication and proper training can maintain and even improve athletic performance well into one's golden years.
Fellow competitors often speak of the motivation they draw from watching Brydges compete. Her technique, developed over years of training, demonstrates that success in powerlifting comes from consistency, proper form, and an unshakeable mental approach to the sport.
The Mental Game of Powerlifting
Beyond the physical demands, powerlifting requires intense mental focus and preparation. Brydges's approach to competition showcases the psychological aspects that separate good lifters from great ones. Her ability to maintain concentration under the pressure of competition, while handling weights that would challenge athletes half her age, speaks to the complete athlete she has become.
The "clang of the weights" that Brydges refers to represents more than just the sound of metal plates - it symbolizes the rhythm of training, the satisfaction of progress, and the joy found in pursuing excellence regardless of age.
Championship Performance
At the Canadian Powerlifting Championships, Brydges competed among athletes of various ages and experience levels. Her participation alone challenged preconceptions about aging and athletic ability, but her competitive performance proved that she belongs among the sport's elite competitors.
The championships, held at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John's, provided an appropriate venue for Brydges to display her skills. The professional setting and high-level competition created an environment where her years of training and experience could shine.
Training Philosophy and Approach
Successful powerlifting at any age requires a thoughtful approach to training, recovery, and competition preparation. Brydges's longevity in the sport suggests a training philosophy that balances intensity with wisdom, pushing boundaries while respecting the body's needs for proper recovery and injury prevention.
Her technique during bench press movements demonstrated the importance of form over ego - a lesson valuable for athletes of all ages. The precision with which she executes each lift reflects years of refinement and attention to detail that younger competitors can emulate.
Community Impact
Brydges's influence extends throughout the Canadian powerlifting community and beyond. Her participation in major championships helps elevate the profile of masters-level powerlifting and encourages fitness facilities to develop programs that serve older adults seeking competitive athletic challenges.
Local gyms and training facilities often point to athletes like Brydges when promoting strength training for older adults. Her success demonstrates that proper powerlifting training can contribute to healthy aging, maintaining bone density, muscle mass, and functional movement patterns well into advanced years.
The Future of Masters Athletics
As populations around the world age, athletes like Mava Brydges represent the growing potential for masters-level competitive sports. Her achievements at the Canadian Powerlifting Championships illustrate that athletic excellence need not decline dramatically with age when supported by proper training, nutrition, and medical care.
The powerlifting community has embraced masters competitors, creating age-group categories and specialized competitions that allow older athletes to compete against peers while still challenging themselves against absolute standards. Brydges's success within this framework demonstrates the value of age-inclusive competitive structures.
Looking Ahead
With her performance at the 2026 Canadian Powerlifting Championships, Mava Brydges continues to redefine expectations about athletic aging. Her commitment to training and competition serves as inspiration for current and future generations of athletes who refuse to accept limitations based solely on chronological age.
The "clang of the weights" that motivates Brydges represents the eternal appeal of challenging oneself, setting goals, and working systematically to achieve them. Her story reminds us that the pursuit of athletic excellence can be a lifelong journey, limited more by determination and dedication than by the passage of time.
As she continues competing and inspiring others, Brydges embodies the transformative power of sport to enrich lives, build communities, and demonstrate human potential across all stages of life. Her legacy in Canadian powerlifting extends far beyond her impressive lifting statistics to encompass the barriers she has broken and the paths she has opened for others to follow.