Ken Dalton takes Gold in NYC Kettlebell Competition
Ken Hercules Dalton, captain of Brock University’s fencing team, is a true demonstration of athleticism. To be successful in one sport displays impressive skill but to exhibit the same level of talent across different sports reveals a true athlete.
Ken represented the Canadian Kettlebell Club, trained by Coach Jennifer Hintenberger at Make It Happen - St.Catharines, this past weekend in New York City at an International (IKFF/IKFSA) Kettlebell Competition. Kettlebell sport, also known as Girevoy Sport (GS), discloses the depth of a real athlete. It is a power endurance sport which requires strength to lift two heavy kettlebells, endurance for lasting under a heavy load for a full ten minutes without rest, mental toughness ignore pain and fatigue building as time adds up, speed and power to hit a greater number of repetitions than your competitors, and precise skill and technique to prevent any injuries and allow your body to be as comfortable with discomfort as possible during the entire duration of the set.
GS competitions are not only about beating your opponents with higher numbers but, more importantly, about achieving honoured ranks. The ranks go from lowest to highest as follows: Rank 4, 3, 2, 1, Candidate for Master of Sport (CMS), Master of Sport (MS) and Master of Sport International Class (MSIC) also known as World Class Master of Sport (WCMS). These ranks require hitting a very respectable number of repetitions with a specific weight relative to the athletes’ body weight. Ken hit Rank 1, his goal which required him to complete 69 reps, in his very first kettlebell competition. He contended with two kettlebells weighing a total of 72lbs and greatly surpassed his goal putting up 103 reps!! Ken also received the gold medal in this event.
More Brock University success at this event included a gold medal received by Chrissy Malyk, a Brock University PhD Student; Andrea Watpool, a Brock Graduate and former Brock Varsity Rugby player, who hit Rank 1, received gold and won the Crossfit challenge special event and Melissa Ropitzky, a Brock Uni graduate, who also received gold in her event. The 5th of 5 Make It Happen students and Canadian Kettlebell Club team member, Kelly Bright, was also successful in achieving Rank 1 and receiving a gold medal.
