MOOSE JAW --- It was all just about getting the job done for Moose Jaw’s Rhaea Stinn at the Canadian Powerlifting Union National Championships held on March 1, 2025. The focus was clear: achieve success across all attempts and secure not just her national championship title, but also the chance to vie for bigger prizes on the international stage.
Stinn excelled during the competition at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Centre, successfully completing six lifts across the three disciplines of powerlifting, which included squat, bench press, and deadlift. She clinched the women’s equipped championship, totaling 610 kg, and winning the overall Open equipped championship, marking her as one of the top competitors.
“The goal of today was to get through today, get a total here and then the focus is going to be on World Games training for August,” Stinn explained after her performance. “I needed to get a total here to qualify for Worlds this year, so the primary goal was achieved,” she added, reflecting on her strategy prior to the competition.
Stinn impressively lifted 205 kg in the squat, followed by 215 kg in the bench press, and 190 kg in the deadlift. This not only secured her the national title but also resulted in 98.905 points according to the International Powerlifting Federation points system. The culmination of her lifts was enough to secure her the overall women’s Open title, edging out B.C.’s Diana Foxall.
Beyond capturing the national championship, Stinn is gearing up to defend her title at the World Games, occurring from August 7-17 in Chengdu, China. “It's my fifth one, which is pretty crazy to me, but I'm really excited for it,” she expressed, acknowledging her enthusiasm and the unique environment of the World Games, where multiple sports converge, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Though she feels little pressure currently, she anticipates the tension will build as the event approaches. “But it's one of those sports, you have to just lift as much as you can and then see what happens with everybody else. You can't control everybody else, you can control the weights you put on the bar and that's about all you can do.” Stinn's composed outlook reflects her experience and dedication as she preps for this international stage.
Stinn, also one of the organizers of the 2025 Nationals, has her hands full ensuring the courtesy and professionalism of this event shape the experience of fellow athletes. “The priority was making sure this is a great event for all the other athletes, so that's sort of where things are at,” she stated. “We have an amazing team of support staff volunteers who help us to put this on. So the feedback we've been getting so far, everybody's been really happy.”
The competition is set to run through Friday and Saturday, as more athletes take their turns at the lifts. “We've already had some phenomenal lifting and it's going to keep going throughout the whole week, so it should be a good time,” Stinn remarked, indicating her optimism about the remaining events.
With the World Games on her mind and the momentum of the national title behind her, Rhaea Stinn is not only showcasing her strength but also paving the way for future competitions. The community surrounding powerlifting is alive and well, and all eyes will be on her as she aims for glory at the World Games later this year.