With the aim of ensuring compliance with International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) rules and strengthening the technical foundation of the sport in the country, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) is investing in the development of local officials and coaches.
Through support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission and the Guyana Olympic Association, local coaches Bjorn Williams and Ashley Abraham are attending the IPF Trainer Course Level Two in Chile from September 17-19.
According to the GAPLF, this marks the first time locally based coaches are being trained at this level. Guyana currently has one IPF-trained coach, Kerma Singh, who is based in the USA and has played a key technical role with the national team at the international level.
The IPF now requires a female coach to be attached to teams competing at its championships when female athletes are selected, making the development of local coaching capacity even more important.
The course will bring together participants from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Guyana and host nation Chile.
It precedes the 2026 South American Powerlifting Championships, which will be held in Chile from September 20–28 at the Gimnasio Polideportivo Estadio Nacional in Santiago.
Guyana will field 17 athletes, including 10 making their international debut. Two athletes will compete in the equipped category, while 16 will contest the classic category. (Modified Press Release from the GAPLF)
