Vikings Weightlifting Club

A little Canadian Weightlifting History.

Two Canadian weightlifters had small parts in movies that I know of - perhaps there are more.

The Clan of the Cave Bear
Luciano Desimone - BC
Luciano competed at the following Canadian Senior Championships and had represented two BC clubs over his years of lifting - Spartak and Vikings.
1985 - 82.5kg - 8th
122.5 + 152.5 = 275
1986 - 90kg - 4th
127.5 + 155 = 282.5

Quest for Fire
Jacques Demers - QC
Jacques won a Silver medal in the 75kg category at the 1984 Olympic Games in LA
Best lifts I believe were 155 and 195.

How do you go from the first video to the 2nd video in 3 years? First you stop Dancing and second you train hard - taking care of business. On our way to Westerns today taking place in Saskatoon with Felix Bergeron. Other club members competing are Kenna Robinson and Laila Sandhu.

Congratulations to Wes Woo and his official induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame earlier this week - well deserved!!!
Joining Wes were 4 Spartak Weightlifting Club members - Earl Farrell, Robert Rudek, Carman Adair and Ray Vaillancourt. Carman Adair nominated Wes for this prestigious award!!!
.earl

Earl Farrell’s 70th Birthday Party

Left to Right:
Robert Rudek, Carman Adair, Earl Farrell
Wes Woo, Guy Greavette, John Swan

4 of us were on the BC Team at the 1975 Canada Winter Games in Lethbridge AB

52kg - Guy Greavette - Silver
57.5kg Sn**ch - 75kg C&J

56kg - Earl Farrell - Silver
72.5kg Sn**ch - 85kg C&J

60kg - Robert Rudek - Silver
90kg Sn**ch - 110kg C&J

82.5kg - John Swan
95kg Sn**ch - No C&J Result

Everyone in the photo except Guy Greavette lifted for the Spartak Weightlifting Club in Vancouver coached by Wes Woo

2 years later at the CDN Senior Weightlifting Championships, Robert, Earl and Guy all competed against each other in the 60kg category.

Carman Adair was two time CDN Senior Champion in 1977 and 1979 and a former BCWA President

Wes Woo coached at two Olympic Games (1968 and 1976) and will be finally inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame later this month.

Guy Greavette was the Best Man at Earl’s first wedding and Earl Farrell was the Best Man at Guy Greavette’s wedding. A great friendship among everyone over the years and lots of lifting!!!

Only a few spots available so don’t miss out on learning Olympic Weightlifting technique from one of the best lifters in Canada who is also a certified coach!!!

Kayla has represented Canada at 4 International events:

2022 Pan American Championships
2023 Commonwealth Championships
2024 World Cup
2024 World Championships

Global Fitness Centre
1574 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna BC
Wednesday - September 24
5:30 - 7:00 PM

Open to all ages and abilities!

Larry Mather and Dieter Stamm - I believe both have been Presidents in their respective Provinces. Both have Coached numerous athletes and have been instrumental in changing lives of young lifters who came into the sport of Weightlifting. Larry has Coached from grassroots all the way up to the international level and although Dieter has not Coached the International level, he has produced Athletes who have. Dieter has Officiated at International events and has been an International Category #1 Official for many years. Both have been instrumental and supportive of my development in the sport. Both Larry and Dieter have been coming to Ogopogo ever since Vikings started hosting with both perhaps only missing one year out of 15. Whenever I give Dieter a call in advance of an event, he is more than willing to attend. Larry has stayed at our home the last two years which has been fantastic, especially when Larry and his wife Clarece took me into their home back in 1979. Dieter comes up and visits his cousin every year. I consider both very good friends of myself but of course, the sport of Weightlifting. If you don’t know them, get to know them because they are a big part of the history of Weightlifting in Canada. The final photo is a shirt from the UBC Weightlifting Club which Dieter was a member back in the 1960’s. There is not enough room to mention all that these two have done for Weightlifting in BC, Alberta and Canada 🇨🇦 .weightlifting

Vikings in action at the 2025 Ogopogo Weightlifting Championships.

Taylor Rode (f77) - 4th place
40 + 49 =89
**PR Competition lifts

Kenna Robinson (f63) - Bronze
55 + 68 =123
**PR Competition lifts

Torsten Godwin (m60 - 44.25) - Gold
28 + 39 =67
**PR Competition lifts

James (m+110) - Gold
92 + 108 =200
**First competition, 14 years old

Felix Bergeron (m88) - Silver
108 + 142 =250
**Best Youth and Junior Male Lifter
**PR + BC Youth Record C&J

Jeanette Perry (+86) - Silver
60 + 75 =135
**6 for 6 - PR Competition Sn**ch + Total

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Your support helps make events like this possible and celebrates the hard work of athletes from across BC!

📣 We’re still looking for more sponsors! If your business wants to support local sport and a growing weightlifting community in Kelowna, and athletes from across Western Canada, send us a message for more information.
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Team Canada 🇨🇦 for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships has been officially announced. Very proud to have two Youth lifters from the club representing Canada - Felix Bergeron and Laila Sandhu. The last time 2 lifters from the club represented Vikings and Canada Internationally was the 2022 Pan American Senior Championships in Bogota, Colombia 🇨🇴 - Kayla Shepard and Miklos (Mike) Bencsik with Mike winning a Silver in the C&J.

20 lifters selected to represent Canada at the Commonwealth Championships with 9 going from BC plus 2 Coaches and the Team Leader. Looking forward to a great event in Ahmedabad, India 🇮🇳