Oceanside Special Olympics powerlifters haul in gold
Published 12:30 pm Thursday, July 16, 2026
Two Oceanside Special Olympics powerlifters captured gold medals at the Twin Rivers Strengthfest in Kamloops on July 11.
Brett Lehtonen and Shayne Blandin each finished first in their respective weight classes, marking their second consecutive gold-medal performances as a team. The pair also claimed top honours at The Kraken Open in Nanaimo in April.
Powerlifting was introduced as a Special Olympics sport in Oceanside earlier this year under the leadership of coaches Kristine Mallory and Deirdre Janssen. Competing as the Tidal Titans, the athletes train together weekly while also following individual strength training programs four times a week.
Their hard work paid off in Kamloops with several personal-best performances.
“Brett crushed his personal best with an impressive 187.5-kilogram (413-pound) deadlift, which was the tournament’s overall heaviest lift,” said coach Mallory. “He also completed a 165-kilogram squat and a 150-kilogram bench press to finish first overall in his weight class.”
Mallory added that Blandin also set new personal bests with a 60-kilogram deadlift, a 42.5-kilogram squat and a 47.5-kilogram bench press, earning first place in her division.
Following a short summer training break, the Tidal Titans will return to the gym to prepare for powerlifting competitions scheduled for October and November.
Meanwhile, Oceanside Special Olympics golfer Ashley Thompson, a provincial gold medallist, is preparing to represent British Columbia at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat this August.
Oceanside Special Olympics offers a variety of sports throughout the year. More information is available at sobcoceanside.ca or on the SOBC-Oceanside Facebook page.
