Brent Smith has had a successful powerlifting career, without doubt, but he’s not done yet. Attention to detail, striving for improvement, and sharing his passion with others will keep him involved for years to come.
Smith, 62, recently won gold in the Masters 3/83 kilogram category at the Canadian National Powerlifting Championships in St. John’s, N.L. He set a new national record for squat and qualified for the Commonwealth Games, adding to a resume that includes provincial, Canadian and North American records.
While he had long trained with weights, Smith said powerlifing found him in his mid-40s, when he joined a small group at his regular gym.
Supplied photo
Brent Smith, pictured at last year’s national competition, recently won gold in the Masters 3/83 kilogram class at the 2026 Canadian powerlifting championships.
That was the beginning of an education that had him starting from scratch.
“Everything I’d been taught by a personal trainer was wrong,” Smith said. “I had to switch from being a client to an athlete and do precision-driven lifts; not what a personal trainer would teach, but what a powerlifting coach would teach.”
Admittedly somewhat obsessive-compulsive, Smith found his niche in a sport that rewards attention to detail. He was driven to learn optimal techniques, which are the key to success.
“Powerlifting is a precision-driven sport,” Smith said.
“Once you get that, your numbers go through the roof. It was this whole different world.”
That combination of focus and passion means Smith considers even the minutest details of workouts and individual movements. His precision drew people to train with him. Over time, Smith crossed paths with international-calibre peers, absorbing every insight he could glean.
“Everything for me has been pure coincidence,” Smith said.
“Powerlifting found me, I didn’t really find it. I was damn lucky.”
Smith enjoys sharing his powerlifting passion and trains fellow athletes. He enjoys seeing their confidence grow as their techniques are refined; his proudest moments are seeing lives transformed.
“Every aspect of your life changes,” Smith said.
While some coaches teach small repetitions at heavy weights, Smith focuses on perfecting technique, everything from joint mobility to head positioning and where the bar rests on the back. The combination of incorrect technique and overly heavy weight can damage the body.
Smith began seriously competing a decade ago and has broken every provincial record in his class. He’s even set a North American squat record.
Even with the success as he’s enjoyed, Smith said he has no shortage of things to refine. He continues to analyze his squat technique while also seeking improvement with the bench press and deadlift.
“I was up at 4 a.m. this morning planning my next six months,” Smith said.
“I was bouncing off the walls and so excited to get back to the gym.”
The pure joy he gets every day is more than enough to keep him involved for what he hopes are decades to come. In a close-knit community where folks train well into their 80s and beyond, plenty more experiences await.
“This is an incredible feeling,” Smith said.
“Powerlifting’s had such an impact on so many. For me that’s humbling and rewarding.”
For more information on powerlifting, visit St. James Strength at sjsgym.ca or on Instagram.
Tony Zerucha
East Kildonan community correspondent
Tony Zerucha is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email him at tzerucha@gmail.com
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