Tofino RCMP Cpl. Gregory Young doesn’t have to throw his weight around when heading into a hairy situation.In fact, he often doesn’t have to say much at all.
At six-foot-one and 370 pounds, the soft-spoken Young is a pretty imposing sight.
“I think it helps to defuse things before they get out of hand,” he says. “I guess it’s one of those things where if you’re big and strong, you don’t need to do or say anything. It just kind of works itself out.”
He thinks his size can help reassure those needing help, along with being calm and choosing his words properly. “It’s important as a police officer to be physically fit and be capable and competent in your abilities.”
When it comes to physical fitness, Young has that in spades. He recently returned to duty after winning a silver medal by lifting 545.6 pounds at the World Bench Press Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
He competes in the super-heavyweight category for those weighing more than 264 pounds and now has his sights set on gold.
The recent trip was a family affair. Young’s mother, Barbara, who helped with organization, and father, Terry, who won a gold in his age group by pressing 292 pounds, attended the May 21-29 event as well.
“It’s pretty cool that we do that together. I think that’s really unique and something that not a lot of people get to do.”
When Young goes to the provincial competition this month, his wife, Asia, will be competing, too — in bench press as well as powerlifting.
They met in a gym on Quadra Island. Meeting Asia, who helps coach her husband and offers advice, “is probably the best part of my lifting career, to be honest with you.”
Raised in Newfoundland, Young loved sports growing up. He wrestled, with his dad — a world masters power lifting champion in 1995 — as his coach. “In the back of my mind, my plan was always to follow my dad’s footsteps.”
Young earned a science degree at the University of Guelph, where he competed in power lifting, and joined the RCMP after university. Before Tofino, he served on Quadra Island and Nanaimo.
Back issues forced Young to take time off and when he recuperated, he took up the bench press. Checking results from competitions, he saw he could compete at the world level, and decided in 2018 to return to competition. “If I really believe I’m that good, I should put myself on the stage and test myself against the best guys in the world.”
The next year, he won the open super heavyweight category in the Canadian national competition in Ottawa.
From there, he went to the world championships in Tokyo, where he placed fourth, then won his class at the Commonwealth championships in 2019 in Newfoundland.
The pandemic disrupted competitions. But in 2021, Young went to the world championships in Vilnius, Lithuania, and placed third.
In this sport, competitors are on their backs on the bench, waiting for the OK to start. Athletes take the bar, pause it on their chests, then hold it up with arms fully extended until the referee says to stop.
It’s not just about the weight, but about strategy and speed, Young says. Competitors evaluate their opponents as they take turns and figure which number they will aim for. Speed matters because it’s easier to lift something quickly than slowly.
Young trains four days a week for three and a half to four hours in his home gym. He said he avoids over-complicated workouts but does incorporate variety in techniques, movements and intensity in routines. “I think the basics work. I think hard work works.”
Young says he is an “extremely driven person” and enjoys being active and competitive.
“The thrill of hitting a big number … I can’t even explain it. It’s an incredible feeling. It’s fun to test yourself.”
Although Young is largely self-coached, he keeps in close contact with his father and the two plan training strategies.
“He’s been a lifelong influence on me and steered me in the right direction.” His own family in Tofino is “super-supportive,” as well.
On the day of competition, the “big thing is trying to just not do anything out of the ordinary. Just make sure you have a good sleep, you stay hydrated, you’re full of electrolytes and good fuel.”
In Kazakhstan, that meant a quiet day and a pre-game steak before heading to the event.
He chose to strive for 545.5 lbs, which he accomplished. His body moved out of position in his second attempt at 551 lbs, so that didn’t count, and on the third try he didn’t get a full extension when shooting for 573 lbs. That meant the first attempt counted. A French competitor won the event with 567.7 lbs.
Now that he’s turning 40 this year, Young could compete in the masters age bracket. But most of his competitors are in their 20s and he’s determined to stay in the open category with its broader range of ages for now.
“I felt that the open will be more challenging. I truly want to compete against the best people in the world, not just the best people in my age group.”
