Who are you, where are you from, and what do you do for a living? What are your best results in powerlifting?
Marcela: My name is Marcela Sandvik, born in Czechoslovakia, but on the east side of the country which is now Slovakia. I moved to Åland in 2005, and my club is Ålands Kraftsportklubb (ÅKK). I studied to nurse in Slovakia and worked in a small hospital there for 6 years. Then I moved to Prague in Czech Republic and worked in a bigger hospital for 4 years. After moving to Åland my workplace is the local hospital where I’m now nurse manager (head of the medicine department).
In 2000 I started competing in powerlifting, and in 2002 I got into in the Czech national team. From 2008 I have represented Finland in the international championships. I’ve been a referee since 2008 and my current status is national cat 1.
My best equipped competition results are 155,5- 125-152,5-425,5 kg. My best classic results are 120- 87,5-142,5-348 kg. I have competed in 52-57 kg weight classes.
Kenneth: My name is Kenneth Sandvik, born and raised on Åland Islands with my lovely wife Marcela and our fantastic daughter Lillan. I will be M2 age in next year, but so far, my goal has been to stay in the open age category for as long as I feel that I’m competitive there. For as long as I have a reasonable chance for medals in the open category at the international championships. My club is Ålands Kraftsportklubb (ÅKK), and my profession is mailman which I have been during my whole adult life.
I’ve been training in gyms since 1993 and started powerlifting in 2001. The following year I got into the national team and have been in it ever since.
All non-profit organizations need volunteers of course, so I´ve been in our club’s board since 2002 (and treasurer). I got my referee license in 2006, and in 2019 I reached international Cat 2.
My best equipped competition results are 420- 371- 327,5-1086 kg in the super heavy weight class.
How did you get into powerlifting?
M: I played handball (as a goalkeeper) between ages 9-23, also on international level, and got a little involved in gym training at that time. When I finished with my handball career I wanted to become a weightlifter, but they told me that I was too old. However, there was a woman in the gym who was a powerlifter. She noticed that I was strong, and she told me that I should try competing in powerlifting.
K: After some years in the gyms doing ”bodybuilding training” I heard some guys from the local powerlifting club asking around for spotters for a local competition. I went there and switched plates during the competition and noticed the fantastic atmosphere they had going on. They cheered on each other and seemed to have a very good time. I was struggling a lot with training motivation at that time and decided to give it a go. It might help me set up some goals. One good thing about powerlifting is that the competition results show how well you’ve been training. It’s all in black and white after the competitions.
So I did a local competition in 2001 and qualified for the nationals in 2002. I learned very quickly to master the equipment and got a bigger advantage than most others from it.
What interests you in powerlifting and what is so great about it?
M: The harmony between physical power and mental power. To see the development after many years. Create contact with other people and develop friendship. You and only you are the one who impacts your result. In a team sport everybody needs to move in the same direction to be able to reach success.
Also, the travelling is a bonus, and creates memories for life. During the trips we may visit countries which you would never have visited otherwise and discover their cultures.
K: The obvious answer is friendship which comes along with participating in the competitions, and meeting people with the mutual interest in powerlifting. That was my door into the sport, and that´s what still keeps me going. I have of course realized that I won’t be able to compete at my current level forever, so when age (read: injuries) stop me from competing I want to still be able to stay in the powerlifting environment. I’ve done some coaching, also on international level, and that’s also the reason I got my international referee license.
The travelling is also a fun part about the sport. I would never have travelled to so many countries otherwise. It’s an expensive hobby, but we get some help here and there. Our 9-year-old daughter has already travelled a lot. USA will be her 18th country, and 4th continent.
What do you do when you are not thinking about powerlifting?
M: Spending time with my family. Our daughter has many hobbies, and we’re supporting her in all kinds of ways with that. Driving her to practices and doing voluntary work. I spend some time outside in the garden, and just walking around enjoying the nature (and get some cardio at the same time).
K: As a fulltime employee, house owner, family father and club volunteer there isn’t much spare time. But I like to watch a good series on my computer. After my back gave up a few years ago and I had to retire from full powerlifting competitions, I have more free time at home. Sometimes I do some woodworking on a beginner level, just for fun.
Who would you like to go the gym with and why?
M: I would like to have our daughter as a training partner. She has potential, but she has bigger interests in other sports right now, football and dancing.
K: It would be fun to train with every previous member of the national team that I have travelled with and talk about trips and competition memories.
What would you like to learn about powerlifting?
M: New training methods and ideas. I would like to discuss with other lifters how they are training and try different methods and see what suits me. As long as it’s fun and you find it interesting, you will learn stuff.
K: I would like to learn when to quit before it’s too late. Let me explain: I did heavy equipped squats and deadlifts for too long, even after I started having severe pain in my back. I just looked at the competition calendar and realized that I might have a chance for a medal. Now I have to pay the prize every day for my stupidity as one of the discs in my back is totally destroyed. It’s limiting me somewhat in my normal life, and I need to be careful all the time. And of course, this doesn’t help my motivation, but it is what it is…
What else would you want to be asked and how would you answer it?
M: Which sport would you choose if you hadn’t started with powerlifting? Weightlifting and handball.
K: What are the causes for your success? I think one of the bigger causes might be that I never really followed a strict training program. I believe in the principle of doing heavy training on good days, and light training on bad days. Your body isn’t up for heavy training every day, or every day when your program says you should. I think many injuries appear when you’re not really in 100% shape but go heavy anyway since the program tells you to.
Also, I choose my battles during the competitions. I don’t shoot for gold unless I have a reasonable chance of making the lift. I try to see who I might have a chance to battle with, and don’t bother to fight with the ones above my own level. Beat the ones you can beat on that day.
I have won the World open equipped bench press championships seven times, but not once did I lift last in the final round.
Even if you’re not a referee, learn the technical rules. You will get advantages of that during the battles in the competition, and you will not be in desperate need to ask experienced people when there isn’t enough time for it. Quick strategic decisions will sometimes be needed.
Greetings to the readers of eVoimanostaja?
M: Greeting to everyone in the powerlifting family! Nothing is impossible. Just set your goals, and only you can affect the outcome. Have fun in the meantime!
K: Listen to experienced people and be open minded in try new things/techniques. Be patient and rest a little extra if you think you might need to. Your body will thank you and reward you. Take the chance to go to the next competition level if the door opens up, it’s worth it! See you out there, and have fun!
