Steinbach’s Jacqui Broesky recently returned home after an incredible experience at the World Powerlifting Championships and the 2024 Commonwealth Games in South Africa. This was her first competition on such a grand stage, and she is excited to share her journey.

“I only lifted once and it counted for both competitions,” Broesky explains. Normally, the Commonwealth and World Championships are separate events, but due to scheduling, the two competitions were combined this year. “They combine them and said you can lift once and we’ll take the numbers and count it for both,” she adds.

As she walked into the venue for the competition, Broesky was struck by the atmosphere.

“It was amazing walking into the venue the first time,” she recalls. “It’s a huge stage and there are two very large platforms, so there’s actually lifting on two platforms at once.”

The excitement was incredible with cameras flashing and athletes from around the world buzzing with energy.

“There were probably about 100 or more people in attendance every day, and it’s very loud,” Broesky describes. The cheers were a mix of languages, making it a truly international event.

Jacqui Broesky with her three medals.

While competing, Broesky had the support of fellow athletes, although they were spread across four different hotels. “We were spread out…lots of Team Canada athletes in our hotel,” she notes. Even though they trained on different schedules, Broesky enjoyed the camaraderie, often sharing training sessions with athletes from other countries. “There were three training stations specifically set up for the athletes,” she explains, making it easy to connect and train together.

When it was her turn to lift, the anticipation was intense. With her coach by her side, Broesky focused solely on her lifts. The goal was to achieve three successful lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift.

Broesky’s performance was remarkable. “I got all my lifts and I got all white lights on every single lift, which to most people, wouldn’t seem like anything but to any power lifter out there, they know that that’s kind of a Unicorn. It doesn’t happen very often, and it’s never happened to me that I haven’t gotten a single red light. So, I was proud of myself, especially at the world level. The judging is incredibly tough,” she proudly reports.

After her lifts, Broesky participated in two medal presentations, one for each competition. “There’s a parade of athletes,” she explains, recalling the moment fondly. Along with participation medals, Broesky earned individual medals for her performance, including a bronze for her bench press at the Commonwealth Games.

So, what were her final numbers? “My top weight ended up being 155 kilos for my squat, which is roughly 350 pounds,” she shares. Her bench press was 100 kilos (about 220 pounds), and her deadlift was 162.5 kilos (around 360 pounds). “It’s common for people to not perform the same way at international competitions,” she notes, referring to the fatigue that comes with long travel and time zone changes. Despite this, Broesky’s determination shone through.

Reflecting on her experience, she says, “I made some amazing friends, people from around the world.” The support within the powerlifting community was a highlight for her. “We’re all there to beat our competitors, and yet it’s the most supportive community that I’ve ever been part of,” she explains. “I will cherish those memories for a lifetime.”

Now, Broesky is continuing her journey as a sports nutrition coach for an international company called Fiercely Fueled, while also coaching powerlifting at Stonebrook Strength. “Powerlifting is not going anywhere,” she reports, expressing her passion for the sport and helping others succeed. With her impressive achievements and strong community ties, Jacqui Broesky is a rising star in the world of powerlifting.

(Competition photos submitted by Jacqui Broesky)

-With files from Adi Loewen.