ATHABASCA — Athabasca-based powerlifter Maria “Mimi” Frank secured the titles of World Champion in both classic and equipped women’s bench press for the second year in a row this May, and while the gold medals and bragging rights are a bonus, she’s already got her sights set on next year.
“It feels amazing to be at the peak, but regardless of any kind of achievements, any titles, the goal is always to get stronger,” said Frank. “It doesn’t feel like I’ve arrived anywhere, it still feels like the journey’s ongoing.”
Frank earned her second consecutive World Champ titles in Norway at the International Powerlifting Federation’s World Bench Press Championship in Drammen, Norway, held May 18 to 24.
To secure the top spot in the classic lift, Frank hefted 92.5 kilograms — almost 204 lbs — in the 57kg weight class on opening day of the competition, a feat she had no doubts she could accomplish.
“I scouted out the competition beforehand, and I knew that I would be very hard to beat,” said Frank. “On that day, I felt very strong, I felt like I could have lifted anything I would have needed to to win, so that’s what we did.”
The equipped lifts came four days later; equipped bench lifters use a supportive shirt made of canvas, polyester or denim for more leverage, meaning higher weights can be lifted while lowering the potential for injuries.
“I knew that I had a good chance of winning with my opener,” said Frank. “From there, I had personal goals I wanted to accomplish after that, and I did fall short of those, which was a little disappointing for me. But I was still far enough ahead with my opener that I was able to come away with the win.”
Last year, she made two attempts to beat the current equipped world record by lifting 130.5 kg in the 52 kg weight class, but form imperfections meant her lifts didn’t register. Following 2024 Worlds, Frank had her sights set on challenging the world record again at another competition in August, but she had to pull out last minute for personal reasons.
In 2025, Frank moved up into the 63 kg weight class, and because of the step up, did not attempt a world record lift. Instead, she racked 125 kg, or 275.5 pounds on the bar to take first place in the equipped category in the 63 kg weight class. Her winning lift came in 20 kg heavier than second place Berge Hege from Norway.
But, she said she isn’t quite finished with her goal to set a new worldwide best.
“Looking forward now, I’ve got two — I guess four — World Championships under my belt; I might give that world record another crack next year.”
Though she’s still chasing her world record, Frank hit a personal milestone in March at the Canadian National Championships in March, pressing 143 kg, or 315 lbs. Setting her new best in March gave her hope she would be able to do the same at Worlds in May, and despite coming away on top in two events, she said missing her own mark stung.
“It just wasn’t an ‘on’ day, for whatever reason. I was a little disappointed in my performance that day.”
In addition to the gold medals, Frank was named second in the best lifter category, which compares the relative strength of athletes from all weight classes. Her 2025 results mirrored 2024, when she also placed second to Great Britain’s Siobhan Taylor.
Taylor was given the number one spot again this year, a pattern Frank hopes to interrupt in the future.
“Had I lifted what I hoped to lift I would have won best overall, so that’s frustrating – that was another goal for myself that I fell a little bit short of.”
Disappointed but not deterred
But the feelings of disappoint proved to be perfect fuel for her fire. Now back on home soil, Frank is ready to hit the ground running, having hired two new coaches to prepare for next years Worlds — one for training, one for nutrition.
One of the biggest parts of proper preparation, especially in the next twelve months, is resisting the urge to do more training, taking recovery days seriously, and sticking to the plans made by her team of experts.
“It feels like the fire has definitely been lit for next year. It feels like it’s been a couple years of disappointing performances at worlds, so I want to redeem myself next year.”
“It sounds silly, because I won four gold medals. But it’s a personal journey for all of us.”
With her short-term sights already set on competitions scheduled for spring 2026, Frank’s long-term vision of her future in the sport is one of perseverance and year-over-year growth in more areas than the gym.
“I want to keep growing and improving, getting stronger for as long as I can. There’s not necessarily an end date, there are lifters in their 40s, 50s, 60s who are still gaining strength.”
“It makes me physically stronger, but it really helps you feel stronger in other areas of your life as well,” she added. “As women, we’re often told by society at large to be smaller and take up less space, but powerlifting has taught me the opposite of that.”
Between now and next March, Frank will be training four days a week, eventually working up to five days of training and two days of rest. Her regimen includes strength and mobility training to prevent muscle and joint injuries, and cardio to get her closer to being the best lifter and world record holder, in addition to being a two-time World Champ twice over.
And regardless of how close she gets in 2026, Frank said she’ll keep her eyes on the prize for as long as she can.
“There’s always more weight that can go on the bar, but it really is a never-ending process.”
