Josee was still riding high from her multi-medal achievements at Canada's 2018 National Games when the then-27-year-old Ontario resident was chosen for the 2019 World Games; one among a growing number of female powerlifters. Her records then were deadlifting 295 pounds (now it's 298) and bench-pressing 137.
Not bad for a young lady with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a vision impairment. At the 2019 WG, she earned multiple medals: "four golds and one silver,” she says. Her family was once warned she'd always be in delicate health. Sports changed all that!!
These days, she Josee only wants to get better: she qualified for Team Canada after lifting her way to three gold medals at Canada's Games.
Josee has also had to work through a recent injury, but is back in the gym and training to prepare for Berlin in June. She balance her training regimen with a full-time job in long-term care. While the long hours can be challenging, Josee says: sometimes, you have to dig down deep to jump-start motivation. “Just get up and go and get moving and then you feel better afterwards,” she says.
