Alex Skirukha started lifting weights at Bearspaw Christian School when he was in Grade 8, and every year he’s gotten stronger and stronger.
Skirukha says he loves being in the gym.
“Probably my favourite part about this whole environment is the camaraderie,” the 17-year-old said.
“Everybody supports everybody no matter what your weight is. You just go and support your friends and do your best. It’s all about self-improvement in here.”
This year, the Grade 12 student decided to enter his first teen strongman competition, and his rise in the sport has been meteoric.
In March, he won Calgary’s strongest teenager.
In June, he won the province.
In October, he took the title at the nationals, and just last week, he blew away the competition to claim the title of the world’s strongest teenager in Madison, Wis.
Skirukha still can’t believe he won.
“I saw some of my competitors, and they were towering over me,” he said.
“I didn’t think I was going to win. I just had the mentality of …