Through three rounds of competition, just over five pounds was all that would separate Sudbury powerlifter Josée Seguin and her top competitor, Marina Tsytsak from Russia, as the women battled it out on Saturday in Abu Dhabi at the Special Olympics 2019 World Games.
In the end, Seguin would benefit most notably from her proficiency on the deadlift, allowing the pride of the Canadian team to return home with three gold medals and a silver from her first international event.
Truth be told, Seguin and Tsytsak were about as close as can be.
The women were dead even after the bench press, both with lifts of 60 kilos, with the Russian moving ahead, ever so slightly, in the squat (85 kgs vs 82.50). Thankfully, the dead lift remained, with Seguin muscling the bar that included 135 kilos, versus 130 for Tsytsak.
The combined totals would read Seguin at 277.50, Tsytsak at 275, while Asmita A of Bharat placed third, followed closely by Alexandra Andryuchshenko from Kazakhstan.
The World Games, which featured the Opening Ceremonies on March 14, will close off the festivities this Thursday, March 21, as more than 7,000 athletes from almost 200 countries return home from the Middle East.
