A bearded pro powerlifter entered a women’s competition in Canada and smashed a record held by a transgender lifter who was watching on.
The
NY Post reports Avi Silverberg, the head coach for Team Canada Powerlifting for more than 10 years, entered last weekend’s Heroes Classic tournament in Lethbridge, Alberta, after identifying as a female.
Video shared by athlete activist group the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) shows him walking up to the platform still fully bearded and wearing a regular men’s singlet.
He then casually bench-pressed nearly 167kg — beating the current Alberta women’s record by almost 45kg.
The current record — 124kg pounds — is held by trans athlete Anne Andres, who was seen watching Silverberg while volunteering at the event.
Andres also holds the Alberta women’s record for the dead lift, at 245kg.
The trans lifter won eight of nine competitions entered in the women’s category over the last four years, ICONS said.
As Silverberg broke her record, Andres stood off to the edge of the platform area, only strolling back on after the male lifter walked off.
ICONS said Silverberg “mocked the discriminatory (Canadian Powerlifting Union) policy” that allows competitors to register for events under their “gender identity and expression, rather than their sex or gender,” vowing “no consequences” for doing so.
Avi Silverberg seemed to effortlessly smash the female record. Photo: Twitter.Source: Twitter
Transgender lifter Anne Andres was at the event as the male pro smashed her record. Photo: Twitter.Source: Twitter
CPU’s transgender policy states an individual “should be able to participate in the gender with which they identify and not be subject to requirements for disclosure of personal information beyond those required of cisgender athletes”.
It also states:
“Nor should there be any requirement for hormonal therapy or surgery.”