Rowan Megale figured his first meet would be good experience. He didn't expect to return home with a provincial record.
Megale, a Grade 12 student at L.V. Rogers, won gold and set a new record in powerlifting at the BLM Showdown in Abbotsford on Saturday.
The 17-year-old lifted 192.5 kilograms in the under-18 men's 93 kg category, beating the previous mark of 190 kg. That stunned Megale, who has only been powerlifting for nine months.
"I knew where my lifts were but I have a few friends who powerlifted and said it was just a really great experience to go and all the guys were super nice," said Megale, who plays also rugby at LVR.
"So when I went I was expecting to have high numbers but I didn't think I'd have really great numbers."
Movements differentiate powerlifting from weightlifting. While the latter focuses on snatch and clean and jerk motions in competition, powerlifting involves squats, dead lifts and bench presses.
Megale has been weightlifting for two years and trains on his own at the Nelson and District Community Complex.
He said lifting in front of judges for the first time was difficult despite beating his own personal mark.
"The environment really made it a lot harder. I think I could have done better. It's totally different being on a stage in front of people and four feet away from them."
Megale's next trip will be to provincials June 10 to 11 in Surrey.