Conor McLaughlin, Special Olympics powerlifting coach in Prince George, is getting athletes ready to compete during the BC Summer Games set to go in Prince George from July 10 to 12.
McLaughlin has been a powerlifter for many years, moving from team sports to power lifting in Grade 12.
“I grew up in Prince George, was in team sports most of my life, hockey was a big one, played a little soccer, a little bit of baseball,” McLaughlin said.
“Once Grade 12 came around and I stopped playing hockey, powerlifting became the sport for me. I was on my own, not a team sport anymore. I competed in that for a number of years and I still compete but now my focus has changed more toward the Special Olympics athletes.”
McLaughlin, who started powerlifting in 2018, said he worked his way up to the national level in competition and in 2023 he took the bronze medal.
“Then I switched focus to these guys and I still compete but I drifted more toward being a coach,” McLaughlin explained.
He became aware of Special Olympic athletes when he worked at the Y when he was in high school. Every week the athletes would attend Club Fit, a mandatory fitness program for those who wish to be a competitive Special Olympics athlete.
“Over the years I got to know a lot of the athletes and other coaches and I thought, you know, I’d like to be involved and luckily powerlifting was one of the sports they needed a coach for – I knew the previous coach and he was no longer able to do it – so it just kinda worked out,” McLaughlin said.
There are three Prince George Special Olympians, under McLaughlin’s guidance, competing at the BC Summer Games in Prince George from July 10 to 12.
Throughout the year McLaughlin coaches seven athletes twice a week but as four chose other sports to compete in during the BC Games, there are three competing athletes including Diana Bramble, Leif Skuggedal and Sam Russell.
The Region 8 powerlifters gathered at the Prince George YMCA on May 6 to do a demonstration of two of the three components in powerlifting including bench press and deadlift. The squat will be included later.
Moving from team sports to an individual sport, McLaughlin understands both sides of competition.
“Everyone is competing on their own, they are the only one on that platform when they’re competing but when it comes down to it we are a team,” McLaughlin said.
“Everyone will be cheering each other on, just as they do when they train. Everyone is clapping when someone lifts heavy. It is an individual sport but when you have a team like this it is a team sport.”
The athletes are working hard as they prepare for the BC Summer Games, he added.
“They are pretty jittery and excited – the countdown has been going on for a long time for Summer Games and last year was the teaser as they attended the regional qualifiers in Mackenzie,” McLaughlin said.
“For many of them it had been a long time since they had competed so there was quite a few nerves for them on that stage. But this year I think it’s more excitement than anything. They are ready to get out there.”
At the YMCA athletes Diana Bramble and Leif Skuggedal were so joyful about the powerlifting process.
“Sports in general are meant to be fun,” McLaughlin said.
“There’s obviously the aspect of competition – they want to win, they want to get gold but at the end of the day it’s meant to be something that’s fun.”
Diana knows what that’s all about.
Talking about the games her whole face lit up with joy.
“I was 19 when I started power lifting and now I’m 54,” Diana said, who’s favourite is the dead lift.
Reuniting with old friends is one reason she enjoys competing.
“And I like meeting new people.”
For fellow athlete Leif it looks a bit different.
Leif has been power lifting for about 10 years, he said.
“I’ve been in tournaments before,” he added.
Leif first got started when his friend Brian Stanley told him he could coach him.
“Brian said to me ‘you know Leif, we need you as a power lifter’ and he inspired me,” Leif recalled.
“I love power lifting. I love everything about it. I love lifting the weights, I love the coaches and the other athletes.”
Leif will compete in the dead lift and bench press during the Games.
“I’m better at dead lift,” Leif said.
“I’m not that good at bench press but me and my coach, Conor, have a plan. The Summer Games are coming and I’m just going to keep my eye on the prize and go for the gold.”
