Battle of the Bulge

sterior deltoids. What do those muscles add up to? Powerlifting glory.

If you want to see some impressive weightlifting, head over to the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency this Friday and Saturday for the 2009 IBSA Blind Powerlifting World Championships. You might see some white canes along the sidelines, but once onstage, these athletes pick up barbells the size of your car. Just like at the Olympics, traditional powerlifting nations such as Russia and the Ukraine tend to dominate. But last year, the American team took the bronze medal, and tiny nations such as Trinidad and Tobago also represented on the podium. Arrive at 10 a.m. for the women’s lifting, 2 p.m. for the men. Tickets cost five dollars (though we recommend forking over an extra $15 for an official T-shirt).
Fri., July 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., July 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 2009