Kinesiology student Ty Humphries recently took home hardware at the 2026 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Winnipeg (PROVIDED BY T. HUMPHRIES/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
When Ty Humphries started hitting the gym with some friends in 2021, he was 16 years old and just looking to get into better shape.
He could not have expected that within five years, he would be representing his country in powerlifting, taking home medals and holding national records.
Humphries, a fourth-year kinesiology and health sciences student at the University of Windsor, recently travelled to Winnipeg as part of Team Canada for the 2026 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships, coming home with gold and silver medals and narrowly missing an overall bronze.
He began to get serious about lifting in 2022 when he realized that his lifts at the local gym were substantially heavier than those of his workout buddies. With a bench press of 165 kg, equal to the national record at the time, he decided to see what he could do in formal competition.
“Growing up playing multiple sports, I was always competitive and wanted some way to push myself and have a competitive outlet,” Humphries recalls.
“That’s when I found powerlifting. I hired a coach and made sure my technique on all my lifts was safe and met competition standards. My first competition was in January 2024, and after that day I knew I loved the sport and had potential to excel.”
Since then, Humphries has become the national record holder for the junior men’s 120 kg bench press in the three-lift competition, lifting 211 kg in early 2026.
In September, he headed to the Commonwealth Championships in Winnipeg, his first-ever international competition.
The level of competitors was intense, as was the pressure to perform, Humphries says.
“I didn’t just represent myself but my country. Having the honour of wearing the Team Canada singlet on an international stage was such a surreal moment.”
Humphries took home gold in the bench-press-only event, lifting 200 kg. He also won silver for bench press in his age and weight category during the three-lift competition, which consists of the squat, bench press and deadlift.
He finished fourth overall in the three-lift competition after tying for bronze, with body weight used as a tiebreaker. He lifted a total of more than 750 kg across the three lifts.
Despite feeling the pressure of competition, Humphries says the environment was supportive.
“I think something beautiful about powerlifting is how, after the competition is all settled and done, we can be friends even if we just met,” he says.
Back home, Humphries brings this same spirit to his work in strength and conditioning with the Lancer football team.
“The team’s work ethic and the energy they bring into the gym is inspiring,” he says. “It shows me how different athletes and individuals train and allows me to better understand different training styles when I get to see them in use.”
Working with the Lancers has also benefited Humphries, who credits the team with supporting his own motivation and discipline in training.
Combining this work with what he has learned through his kinesiology degree, Humphries says he hopes to find work in strength and conditioning or personal training after graduation next year. It’s knowledge that he already applies to his own training and hopes to use to support others.
“Knowing when I can push my body to the max and when my body is beat up and needs a lighter day is really important when looking at health and injury risk,” he explains.
“Knowing how to read your body is a huge part of any athlete's career, but as a powerlifter, it is even more important as we are pushing the limit on what our bodies can do with a maximal load.”
Humphries will continue pushing himself as he works toward the Canada Powerlifting Nationals in February 2027, where he hopes to win gold and qualify for the 2027 World Championships.
In the long term, he hopes to break 2,000 lbs across his three lifts (907.5 kg) before he ages out of the junior category in 2029.
“Not only would this be a national record total but the heaviest junior total across all weight classes in Canada ever,” he says.