Doug Behrens, a Sault native and Garden River First Nation resident, recently earned arm wrestling glory on the world stage.
He won the gold medal in the 65 kilogram standing disabled class at the International Federation of Armwrestling (IFA) World Armwrestling Championships held in Tsuchiura, Japan in late September.
He also competed in the senior grandmaster 70 kg and 63 kg open divisions in Japan.
“I’ve won provincials, I’ve won nationals and it was on my bucket list to bring home a world title as a member of IFA Team Canada,” Behrens told SooToday.
He was the only person from the Sault and area on the 23-member IFA Team Canada squad.
“You stand on that stage and have the Canadian flag there, and you think about all the training, all your training partners back at your home club, your teammates. It just fills you up with emotion.”
Victory is doubly sweet for Behrens, a member of Steel City Armwrestling and the Steel City Slammers arm wrestling clubs, because his gold came in the disabled category.
“I can only train my right arm. I can’t do weight training or pull on the table with my left arm,” Behrens said.
His left arm was injured in an industrial accident while working at a waste management facility in June 1998.
“That was the toughest arm wrestling match I ever had,” he said.
Behrens started arm wrestling in 1988.
“After the injury in 1995 and 2019 I only pulled in local tournaments, and then in 2019 I started training regularly again. I found that my muscle memory came back and I got stronger, but I can still only train my right arm.”
Behrens, 60, said it feels good to have coped with physical obstacles and to bring home the gold.
“I’m happy because arm wrestling gives me something to look forward to every day. I wake up, and outside of work, I train. I enjoy the clubs here in the Sault. It motivates me every day.”
“Now I’m setting my goals on going to Greece next year to hopefully defend the title and maybe make the podium in some other classes,” Behrens said.
He said he wants to continue competing for as long as he can, noting there are categories for 70-year-olds in arm wrestling competitions.
“We practice every Thursday at five o’clock and we have a group of anywhere from nine to 15 people show up at one of the club member’s garages. We have three tables set up for training, and then I do isolated muscle training at home,” Behrens said.
“But, like I said, I can only work out my right arm because my left is damaged, so all my strength is focused on my right arm.”
“It keeps me feeling young,” Behrens said of arm wrestling.
He added he enjoys the sense of camaraderie among arm wrestlers.
“It’s an individual sport but you train with your teammates, your club members. When you compete you want to do good, not just for yourself, but for the guys that got you to that level,” Behrens said.
He also enjoys the sense of respect between rivals.
“You’re enemies at the table and then after the match, win or lose, you’re brothers again. You have to have the mindset of ‘that’s my enemy across the table from me’ but as soon as one hand hits the pad you’re friends again.”
He said he’s grateful for the support he’s received from his parents and sponsor Pro North Roofing & General Contractors.
The Steel City Armwrestling and the Steel City Slammers clubs are currently all male, but Behrens said the clubs are interested in getting females to join.
Anyone interested in trying the sport of arm wrestling can get more information by visiting the Steel City Armwrestling social media site.