Cormier Wins Three Golds at World Powerlifting
The 63-year-old Swift Current lifter returned to world championship competition in Poland after a 1998 Atlanta appearance.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Body Building
Wayne Cormier of Swift Current won three gold medals and a bronze at the world powerlifting championships in Poland. The results marked his return to world competition as a lifter, following a heart attack in June.
Why it matters
Cormier's performance at 63, after a cardiac event earlier this year, offers a notable example of competitive longevity in masters powerlifting. It also highlights Canadian representation at the international level in the sport.
Cormier won gold in equipped and raw full powerlifting and in equipped bench press, plus bronze in raw bench press, compared with his 1998 bronze in full powerlifting. He plans to decide on his future in the sport after enjoying the results.
The players
Wayne Cormier
A powerlifter from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, who is 63 years old and has competed for roughly 50 years.
Natalie Barbosa
A Canadian powerlifter who combined with Cormier to earn 60 team points at the Poland championships.
The details
Cormier prepared for 86 weeks, training three hours a day, six days a week, and balancing lifting with nutrition planning, massage, chiropractic care, physiotherapy and acupuncture. He spent a nine-day stay in Poland, where he and Natalie Barbosa combined for 60 team points.
Timeline
June 2026: Cormier suffered a heart attack.
1998: Cormier last competed at the world championships in Atlanta.
86 weeks before the 2026 world championships: his training preparation began.
November 3, 2026: world championship results were reported from Poland.
Season Trajectory
Cormier's return to world competition after a 1998 Atlanta appearance places his Poland results against a gap of more than two decades. His performance comes after a heart attack earlier in 2026, which sets his comeback apart from his earlier career.
Cormier's three golds and bronze give Canadian powerlifting a strong result on the world stage. Whether he continues competing will determine whether he returns to the world championships in future years.
The takeaway
Cormier's comeback shows that a serious cardiac event does not necessarily end a competitive lifting career. His 86-week preparation, which balanced training with recovery, offers a model of structured return-to-sport planning.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see Body Building coverage across Canada.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwiftCurrentOnline.
