Skip to content

Mimi Frank turns heads on world stage

A woman living in Athabasca took her powerlifting skills to the next level, competing on Team Canada at an international competition where she won two medals and broke her own provincial record.
Mimi Frank, who moved to in June 2016, represented Team Canada at an international competition, winning silver in classic bench press and gold in equipped bench press.
Mimi Frank, who moved to in June 2016, represented Team Canada at an international competition, winning silver in classic bench press and gold in equipped bench press.

A woman living in Athabasca took her powerlifting skills to the next level, competing on Team Canada at an international competition where she won two medals and broke her own provincial record.

Competiting NAPF Bench Press Championships in Hamilton, Ont. from Oct. 27-28, Maria “Mimi” Frank won a silver medal in classic bench press and gold in equipped bench press, breaking own provincial record in the process for her class.

The competition included people from all over North and Central America, and Frank said it was an honour to compete against them.

“It’s an honour to be considered among the top, I guess,” she said. “Still a long way to go. There’s still lots of people stronger than I am, but I’m just going to keep working away at it, and hope to stay there.”

The 33-year-old said began powerlifting in August 2015, and moved to Athabasca in June 2016. She said the first thing she got when she moved to town was a home gym in her basement, and she also trains at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex. In total, she said she spends about two hours a day, six days a week training.

She said her technique has gotten better over the year, but there is still room for improvement.

“I don’t think anyone’s ever finished perfecting their technique,” she said. “It’s always going to be a work in progress.”

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks