People from Vancouver Island and beyond can witness brute force as Duncansa国际传媒檚 host B.C.sa国际传媒檚 first professional strongman championship on July 1.
Sean B. Hayes, widely known as sa国际传媒楤.C.sa国际传媒檚 strongest mansa国际传媒�, alongside Kalem Nygren, currently ranked as the provincesa国际传媒檚 third strongest man, are two of the 22 athletes competing for the 2024 Western Canadasa国际传媒檚 Strongest Man title.
The Comox Valley pair are looking forward to participating in the first championship hosted on their home island. Despite setbacks including major injuries, both cansa国际传媒檛 wait to take on the national stage on Canada Day.
sa国际传媒淟ast November I blew my knee out (and have a torn PCL) so I need that to be reattached,sa国际传媒� said Hayes. sa国际传媒淚n December, I tore off my pectoral muscle and it was reattached in February. I also had a non-lifting-related abdominal surgery in January that went sideways.sa国际传媒�
Experiencing a significant weight loss of 75 lb. over the past year due to his various injuries, Hayes initially did not intend to compete in the 2024 season.
However, when the competition was announced for the first time on the Island, his home territory, he couldnsa国际传媒檛 resist.
Hard at work ever since, Hayes regained 35 lb. and resumed his rigorous training, despite still being lighter than he was last year.
sa国际传媒淓ven though Isa国际传媒檓 coming in with a little bit of a handicap here and there, Isa国际传媒檓 still competing to win (or) get on the podium. Isa国际传媒檓 not going just for fun,sa国际传媒� Hayes added.
Beyond the competition itself, this event carries deep significance for Hayes.
sa国际传媒淭he biggest thing for me is I have three kids in the Valley here and theysa国际传媒檝e never seen me do a professional show,sa国际传媒� Hayes mentioned. sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檝e seen me do local shows as a guest lifter and do little bits, but theysa国际传媒檝e never seen me in an actual competition where Isa国际传媒檓 giving it my all. Since this might be the last opportunity to do so itsa国际传媒檚 incredibly meaningful that they get to come out and watch me.sa国际传媒�
Similarly, Comox Valley amateur strongman Nygren, who regularly trains with Hayes, shared that this event holds a unique significance for him as well.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 considering this (competition) as a lot more important becausesa国际传媒� being from the Comox Valley and being First Nations too, competing on my hereditary land is a big thing for me,sa国际传媒� said Nygren. sa国际传媒淚t would also be my first time doing a pro show with my son there. Thatsa国际传媒檒l be a big bonus and hopefully, thatsa国际传媒檒l give me a lot more motivation. My whole family will get the chance to come down so that should definitely give me a home-field advantage.sa国际传媒�
Equally recovering from surgery for a pectoral tear, Nygren remains focused on his training to compete at the highest level in less than a month.
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