Pretty Strong for a Girl 1 The Meaning of Strength Interview with the strongman By Emilie Charette significant changes to cohol. consuming protein don’t get stronger, you By Emilie Charette Superman, Wonder any young his lifestyle, in order “You need to be shakes nearly every don’t compete.” had never Woman: how many people search to get to a level where able to focus. It can day and eating as In order to get thought of myself of our heroes and leg- for something he would feel ready to mean the difference much as he can as of- stronger, he trains as a strong per- ends, modern and an- Mto give them a sense of compete. between fifth place ten as possible. regularly at a Calgary son, physically. cient, centre on strong purpose in their lives. For example, he and first place.” “If you don’t eat, gym, the Strength I’ve always been people, capable of For Landon Hoch- has almost completely He has also made you don’t get stron- Edge. The gym, in- the type to pre- performing feats far stein, 20, his purpose stopped drinking al- changes to his diet, ger,” he said. “If you tended specifically fer curling up with a beyond those of ordi- lies in strongman. for strongmen, had good book over be- nary human beings? Although he’s been many of the imple- Iing active, ever since I’m hardly extraor- since ments used in strong- I was a child, bespec- dinary, but power- 2015 and trained un- man that wouldn’t be tacled and pudgy lifting and strong- der famous power- found in other gyms, and a little awkward woman training has lifter Joe Stockinger, such as a yoke frame, in my own skin. made me feel much Hochstein only began atlas stones, and Cyr Well, okay, I’m still stronger than I used serious strongman dumbbells. those three things, but to, both physically training four months Hochstein enjoys I’m also beginning and mentally. I first ago. “I always knew to realize what I can began it as a way to “No one has a be capable of, with about it,” he said. deal with personal is- chip on their enough work and sues; it’s very difficult He was also drawn time. to ruminate on your to strongman after shoulder.” On some level, I problems when you’re watching documen- had always admired trying to focus on taries about Icelandic the challenge that people who could per- breathing and push- strongmen Magnús strongman offers, -de form feats of strength: ing your body beyond Ver Magnússon and scribing it as different the image comes to its previous limits. Jón Páll Sigmarsson. than other strength mind of the archetyp- It’s also been a In fact, during a trip sports, since it isn’t ical circus strongman, useful tool for build- to Iceland in April, static like powerlift- with his leopard-print ing my confidence. I Hochstein trained at ing, but isn’t all cardio leotard and handle- walk taller, with better Magnusson’s gym, an either. bar moustache, show- posture, and I know experience that he Above all, his fa- ing off to an admiring exactly what I can do said was incredible. vourite aspect of crowd. if I put my mind to it, Although he has strongman is the sense Heracles, Samson, which feels amazing. yet to compete in a of camaraderie that Efue Nkemka prepares to press a log at the Strength Edge. strongman competi- exists within the com- tion, the sport plays munity. an important role in “Nobody has a chip Hochstein’s life. As on their shoulder,” he such, he’s had to make said. Hochstein carries a loaded yoke at the Strength Edge, Calgary.

Landon Hochstein prepares to bench press at the Strength Edge. Bailey Deschene carries a man-made stone. Hochstein, after lifting atlas stones, poses for a photo. Hochstein demonstrates the . 2 3 A community un- Empowerment like any other By Emilie Charette at the Calgary Stam- through strength he most pede. wonderful Canada’s Strongest By Emilie Charette have an amazing ex- more than a lot of thing about Man, Jean-Francois The strongman com- perience, free of judg- people can deadlift. the strength Caron, and Canada’s munity is also amaz- ment, which isn’t the Guys like that are the community is the second strongest man, ing in terms of equal- case for every gym. exception, not the Tamazing sense of ca- Jimmy Paquet, were ity. While it is true rule, in strongman. maraderie that exists both there, as well as that more men com- At one weight train- within it. James Loach, Western pete than women, the ing gym I went to, The strongman sport has definitely which wasn’t strong- community active- Every time I go to Canada’s Strongest A close-up of a dumbbell. the gym, I see lifters Man. grown in recent years. man-specific, a body- ly encourages more of all different skill During the com- More and more builder made some women to give weight levels supporting, petition, these pro- Facing challenges women are being snarky remark about training a try. The helping, and encour- fessional strongmen head-on drawn to it, interested not being able to get Strength Edge hosts a aging each other. One embodied the respect in seeing how strong a good workout be- monthly women-only lot of weight, but I’ve lifter may help out a and support that By Emilie Charette they can become. cause there was “too evening at the gym Sometimes going to tried to complete that beginner, only to be the community is much estrogen” in the to help introduce the gym is frustrat- for the past two weeks, given advice a minute known for, cheering Because the strong- gym: a lot of women women to the sport. ing. You try for a unable to finish all the later by an even more for their competitors man and powerlifting were there that night. personal best, only sets. Overhead is one seasoned athlete. and shouting encour- communities are so Like everyone in Even during com- agement when their to fail. You’re unable of my weakest move- welcoming, the guys I don’t think any- the community, I petitions, not only is competitors were to complete your sets ments, unlike the don’t have any weird body would say would love to see the the crowd cheering struggling to complete because you’re tired. or the yoke. attitudes toward something like that sport grow in pop- and shouting encour- events. You struggle to try a It was frustrating, women in the gym. to Allison Lockhart, ularity, and I would agement, the com- They’re also very ap- new movement. and irritating, and it Every time I go to and not just because especially love to see petitors are as well, proachable. Allison If you’re a perfec- made me feel weak, The Strength Edge, I she presses overhead more women give it a supporting the other Lockhart, Canada’s tionist like me, that being unable to do it. lifters, despite the fact Strongest Woman, can be incredibly dis- However, last night, that they’re rivals. and James Loach For many people, both train at the same this sense of commu- gym I do. I ignored my shaking nity is their favourite Both are happy to talk arms and the little voice thing about strong- with and offer advice man. to newcomers to the in the back of my head that Even at the profes- sport (or to nosy jour- constantly tells me that sional level, this sup- nalism students!) port is obvious. Last The strongman com- I can’t do anything. summer, I attended a munity is definitely James loach, Western Canada’s Strongest Man, carries a yoke. pro strongman show unlike anything else. couraging. My boy- I pushed through. I The weight of living friend always teases ignored my shaking rying to bal- how much stronger Many strongmen them have what’s his muscle mass and me that I want to be arms and the little ance my fitness I’ve become since I and women drink called a “strongman strength. He can eat good at everything the voice in the back of goals can be first started training. protein shakes to help belly,” which can ac- whatever he wants, first time I try it. my head that con- Tvery difficult. On the other hand, them gain muscle tually help with events whenever he wants, However, some- stantly tells me that I On one hand, I I’ve been trying to lose more easily. Howev- like the log, since they but if I want to meet times you do succeed, can’t do anything. definitely want to get weight for a long time. er, this also results in can rest the weight my goal weight, I and it’s one of the I won’t lie. It was stronger than I am It’s something I’ve weight gain. on their bellies before can’t do the same. best feelings in the difficult. It was tiring. and attain profession- been insecure about Look at any pic- rolling it up and press- However, I’ve nev- world, especially if However, the sense of al strongwoman sta- for my whole life. tures of professional ing it. er been one to back you struggled before. accomplishment that tus. For strongwoman strongmen and you’ll It’s especially dif- down from a chal- Last night at the I felt afterwards was I also want to cor- training, keeping my see that, while they ficult because my lenge. I just have to gym, I was finally incredible, made all rect the aches and energy up and con- are incredibly strong, boyfriend is currently stay focused on what able to press fifty-five the better by the work pains that years of suming protein is im- they are by no means doing a “bulk”: in- I want to achieve and pounds overhead, for it took to achieve that working in retail have portant to developing lean. tentionally putting what I need to do to six sets of six reps. It goal. given me. I like seeing muscle. In fact, many of on weight to increase get there. doesn’t sound like a Josh Cloherty presses Bailey Deschene above his head. 4 5 If you enjoy this content, why not check out my blog?

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