Every competition brings a new challenge.
For Sault Ste. Marie’s Holly Lasante, powerlifting means a chance to compete on the world stage and have plenty of success while doing so.
“Every one, it’s like I’m stepping on the podium for the first time,” Lasante said. “I’m always nervous and excited. There’s always new competitors. It’s not like you go and you’re lifting with the same people all the time. Sometimes there’s familiar faces, but oftentimes there are more new people than not. It’s a new meet every time you go. It’s never a sure thing.”
Even with new faces competing in competitions, Lasante said the focus tends to remain the same for her going into each event.
“The only thing you can do is focus on yourself,” Lasante said. “Make sure that you’re as strong as you can possibly be. I really focus on form because there are so many technicalities to be mindful of when you’re doing your lifts. The only person that you can really worry about is yourself when it comes to training.”
Competing internationally has meant a lot to Lasante, who has competed in four world championships, including her recent gold medal-winning performance in St. John’s, Nfld.
Lasante won an overall gold while capturing gold in the squat and silver in the deadlift at the IPF Worlds Masters Powerlifting Championships.
“There’s so much energy when you’re at the venue,” Lasante said. “It’s all over the world. You know these people are all here to compete in the same sport.”
“Everybody is there with the same focus,” Lasante added. “We’re all so excited and you’re friends with everyone immediately, which is so crazy. It’s super competitive, but it’s different.”
The support of athletes among one another is something that continually stands out for Lasante.
“Everybody is pushing for you to be super successful,” Lasante said. “Mid-lift, there were people coming up to me saying ‘Hey, you’ve got it,’ or ‘You’re going to do this.’”
“Or it’s me going up to people,” Lasante said. “There was a lady from France who was having a hard time and I said ‘You’ve got it. Just focus and you’re going to kill it.’ That’s how it is with every lift. You’re everybody’s biggest fan.”
After competing in regionals, nationals, and the worlds in recent months, getting back to competing was a boost.
“It kind of reignites that passion a little bit,” Lasante said.
With the latest worlds now behind her, Lasante is preparing to compete at the next nationals, which will be in Vancouver in the new year.
“I’m right back into my regular training routine, but it’s awesome because I’m back on the horse,” Lasante said. “It feels good, and you just want to keep getting better.”
After winning nationals in St. John to advance, Lasante called the worlds, also held in St. John “very intense.”
“You put a lot of pressure on yourself to get there anyway,” Lasante said. “When I’m training and prepping for a competition like the worlds, I’m not thinking I want to be average. I want to go and be the best I can be. When you’re at home, I got on the podium, and it was full. I’ve never lifted in front of that many people before. They’re all cheering, and it hits you right in the heart. It’s almost like it makes you stronger because you’re at home.”
“It was pretty amazing to be in that type of competition in front of all these other Canadians,” Lasante added.
A multi-time world champion, Lasante agreed the feeling of winning is always a special one.
“When I was on the podium and they played the national anthem, that had been my dream forever,” Lasante said. “To be a world champion, that sounds insane and then to have them play the Canadian national anthem because of what you did for your team, I was trying so hard not to cry. It was pretty emotional.”
Preparing for the worlds was a bit of an adjustment training-wise for Lasante, who competed in nationals in the 69-kilo category before competing in the 63-kilo group at worlds.
“I had to lose about seven kilos to compete, so that was a little different for me was to lose weight while being able to maintain my strength and do all of the training we would normally do,” Lasante said.
Working with coach Austyn Ryan has been as good a fit as could be as Lasante continues to have success.
“It’s amazing,” Lasante said of working with Ryan. “He knows when to call me (out) if I’m being lazy.”
“I’m really luck to have such a long-term relationship with him” Lasante added. “It’s been awesome.”