People from Vancouver Island and beyond can witness brute force as Duncan乌鸦传媒檚 host B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 first professional strongman championship on July 1.

Sean B. Hayes, widely known as 乌鸦传媒楤.C.乌鸦传媒檚 strongest man乌鸦传媒�, alongside Kalem Nygren, currently ranked as the province乌鸦传媒檚 third strongest man, are two of the 22 athletes competing for the 2024 Western Canada乌鸦传媒檚 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 can乌鸦传媒檛 wait to take on the national stage on Canada Day.

乌鸦传媒淟ast November I blew my knee out (and have a torn PCL) so I need that to be reattached,乌鸦传媒� said Hayes. 乌鸦传媒淚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.乌鸦传媒�

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 couldn乌鸦传媒檛 resist.

Hard at work ever since, Hayes regained 35 lb. and resumed his rigorous training, despite still being lighter than he was last year.

乌鸦传媒淓ven though I乌鸦传媒檓 coming in with a little bit of a handicap here and there, I乌鸦传媒檓 still competing to win (or) get on the podium. I乌鸦传媒檓 not going just for fun,乌鸦传媒� Hayes added.

Beyond the competition itself, this event carries deep significance for Hayes.

乌鸦传媒淭he biggest thing for me is I have three kids in the Valley here and they乌鸦传媒檝e never seen me do a professional show,乌鸦传媒� Hayes mentioned. 乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檝e seen me do local shows as a guest lifter and do little bits, but they乌鸦传媒檝e never seen me in an actual competition where I乌鸦传媒檓 giving it my all. Since this might be the last opportunity to do so it乌鸦传媒檚 incredibly meaningful that they get to come out and watch me.乌鸦传媒�

Similarly, Comox Valley amateur strongman Nygren, who regularly trains with Hayes, shared that this event holds a unique significance for him as well.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 considering this (competition) as a lot more important because乌鸦传媒� being from the Comox Valley and being First Nations too, competing on my hereditary land is a big thing for me,乌鸦传媒� said Nygren. 乌鸦传媒淚t would also be my first time doing a pro show with my son there. That乌鸦传媒檒l be a big bonus and hopefully, that乌鸦传媒檒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.乌鸦传媒�

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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