Gold at IPF Masters Worlds

Well, the end of a long and hard 10 year powerlifting run yielded the highest of prizes on Oct 3rd, a world championship title.

Total was down from Nationals this year, 737.5 vs 755, but I knew going 3 for 3 in the squat was going to win me the title. After Phil Richards from Wales dropped out, I knew I wasn't going to have to go to PR total territory which took the pressure off but also lowered my attempts.

Squats felt fantastic in the warm-up room, straps-up 255 was as fast as it was at Nationals, so I knew I was on.

1st 260 - good lift.
2nd 270 - good lift.
3rd 275 - good lift. This was my best squat. 10 kgs left here for sure.

Bench warm-ups were good until I put the shirt on. 180 to a 1 bd barely touched, 185 to the chest wouldn't touch and drifted back. Same shirt as Nationals where I could have touched 170. Weird. Blaming it on the heat and high humidity, shirt was really clingy. Didn't change the opener, still had confidence.

1st 185 - good lift.
2nd 190 - miss. Right arm dipped, Aras tested me and it was a nerve entrapment. One searing thumb to the nerve later and I was strong again.
3rd 190 - good lift. I have benched 190 in 7 meets, had a feeling this was going to be the number.

Deadlifts were perfect in the warm-up room. Pulled 255 in the warm-up room, felt good for 5 reps.

1st 265 - good lift. This gave me a 730 total. I had Hamada pegged at 700 with a 272.5 sq, his 285 was big but I knew this gave me the win.
2nd 272.5 - good lift. Kept repeating "world champion, world champion" in the back room, right up to the platform. 3 whites and this closed the door on Hamada catching me.
3rd 277.5 - miss. Heart and focus was not into this attempt. Not sure 227.5 would have gone.

Post-lifting weigh-in: 79.5, 5.7 kgs bodyweight on from weigh-in to last deadlift.

So, that's it. World champion. As Glyn reminded me, no matter what path I choose after this, for all time, anyone who looks at the results for this years' Masters worlds, the gold medal is attached to my name.

I am definitely taking a hiatus from competing and for the first time since January 25, 2003 NL Provincials, I do not have a meet planned.

Tom Kean, World Champion Powerlifter
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Here is a list of gyms that I have trained at and, to the best of my memory, the people I have trained with over a 10 year career. I travel a lot for work, so it has been quite the ride and these were the 30 gyms I could remember, I'm sure there have been others:

The Price Club
Steve Price
Stacey Price
Justin Miller
Tony Granville
Jeff Becker (guest lifter)
Ryan Rowsell (guest lifter)
Joy Burt (guest lifter)

New World Fitness
Michael Roberts
Jason Fancey
Steve Perry
Cyril Dobbin
Chris Dobbin

Mcneily Barbell(Frank Williams' gym)
Frank Williams(Mr. Brutality)
Ken Power
John James
Luke Pike
Corey Grandy
Darren James
Mike Wilkinson
Irene King
David
Sherman
Davis
Steven Williams
Hardiman
Dwyer
Butler

Global Gym
Steve Campbell
Paul MacDonald
Danny King
Mike Loder
Jeff Butt
Craig Hirota(guest lifter from Ontario)

Memorial University
Justin Skinner

The Anvil, Toronto, Canada
Clint Harwood
Paul Ledrew
Zach
Colin Garnett
Chris Armes

Some random gym in Atlanta, Georgia
David Ricks, 5xIPF World Champion

Popeyes, Guelph, Ontario
Becker
Summers
Steve Mackenzie
Mark Giffin
Alex Drolc
Mark Holloway
Dave Pigozzo
Randall Truscott

Unparalleled Gym, Moose Jaw, SK
Rhaea
Stinn

Adrenaline Gym, Regina, SK
Lucas Tetreault
Steve Halladay
Tracy Halladay
Kristen

Epicentre Gym, Montreal
Kacey Baines

Gym in Montreal
Janet Warne

Empower Fitness, Ottawa, ON (Eric Gagnon's gym)
Sue Thompson

3 Good Life Fitness gyms in Newfoundland

Albany Strength Gym, Albany, New York

Gym on-site at GE's office in Schenectady
Jeff Kallas

Press Gym, Minneapolis, Minnesota

YMCA, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bill Jameison's Gym, Ontario

Edge Gym, New York

Lewis Noppers' Gym in BC
Lewis Noppers

1 gym in BC

2 gyms in San Francisco

1 gym in Sacramento

1 gym in Barrie, ON

1 gym in Pleasanton, CA

Costa's Gym, Houston, TX

Gold's Gym, Fort Myers, Florida

Celli's Fitness Center, Pittsburgh, PA