Locals lifting at Games

Photo: Facebook - 2015 Commonwealth Powerlifting and Benchpress Championships

Two of Kelowna’s strongest will be heading to Richmond in December for the 2015 Commonwealth Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.

More than 525 lifters from more than 15 countries will meet at the Richmond Olympic Oval from Dec. 1 – 6.

Kim Dennis and Kevin Weiss will be joining more than 100 other Canadians at the event.

Dennis, 45, is an elementary school teacher in Kelowna who has been powerlifting since 1995. She is a national and commonwealth record holder and has represented Canada seven times at the international level.

Weiss, 44, is a trainer and coach and has been powerlifting for 32 years.

Powerlifting is different than Olympic lifting in that competitors lift as much weight as possible for one repetition each in the squat, bench press and deadlift.

Each lifter is allowed three attempts at each lift.

Last year’s event was held in Glasgow, Scotland.