April Hutchinson

April-Lea Christina Hutchinson
Personal information
National teamTeam Canada
Born (1976-04-30) April 30, 1976
Toronto, Ontario
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
SpouseChad Yeo
Websitehttps://www.aprilhutchinson.com
Sport
SportPowerlifting
Medal record
Women's powerlifting
Representing  Canada
North American Regional Powerlifting Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 PanamaMasters 1
Silver medal – second place2023 Cayman IslandsMasters 1
Nationals
Gold medal – first place2022 NewfoundlandMasters 1
Silver medal – second place2023 British ColumbiaMasters 1
Central Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 OntarioMasters 1
Ontario Provincials
Gold medal – first place2022 OntarioOpen
OPA Masters and Open Provincial Powerlifting Championship
Gold medal – first place2023 OntarioMasters 1

April-Lea Christina Hutchinson,[1] also known as April Hutchinson, is a Canadian competitive powerlifter from London, Ontario. She is a three-time former Team Canada member and the current Women's North American Powerlifting Federation's M1 84 kg+ deadlift record holder.[2][3]

Early life

Hutchinson was born in Toronto, ON,[1] and moved to London, ON, at the age of 5. Her grandfather was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.

Powerlifting

Hutchinson began seriously training as a powerlifter in order to improve her health after suffering from alcoholism.[4] Once the COVID-19 pandemic started, she trained every day in a friend's garage. She first competed in the Central Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships in November 2021 where she placed first in the Masters division.[5] In August 2022, she won 1st place Overall[6] and established the North American deadlift record at the North American Regional Powerlifting Championships in the Masters division in Panama City, Panama.[7] At the time she was the best women’s Masters class lifter in Canada and ranked in the top four in the world.[4]

Hutchinson credits powerlifting as assisting her to overcome alcoholism.[8][9] She was included in the "Resilient London: Meet Your Neighbours" exhibit about overcoming adversity at Museum London, Ontario.[10]

While chatting with a woman in a Facebook powerlifting group during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hutchinson learned that the woman was transgender and was going to participate in competitive Canadian powerlifting events.[11] Thinking this was unfair to cisgendered women, Hutchinson wrote to Canadian governing bodies for powerlifting but did not receive a response.[11] In August 2023 after the powerlifter from the Facebook group won a competition breaking a longstanding record, Hutchinson expressed her disapproval on social media and in an interview with Piers Morgan, referring to her as a biological male. This resulted in a two year suspension by the Canadian Powerlifting Union's (CPU) which was later reduced to one year.[12][13] Hutchinson was also removed from the "Resilient London" exhibit due to her vocal criticism of the CPU policy allowing athletes to participate in categories matching their gender identity.[10]

In 2025, she spoke to a full house in an event put on by Regina Civic Action Awareness Network (RCAAN).[14]

Accomplishments

  • Holds record as an NAPF Deadlift champion[3] in her category
  • Personal best lifts[7] include a 420 lb squat, a 209 lb bench press, and a 509 lb deadlift[4]
  • Recognition for her performance at the North American Championships,[15] where she won the Masters Award Overall and established a record
  • Five first-place, two second-place, and one fourth-place at Worlds in Newfoundland, finishes in two years of competitions[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Stats & Facts About Me, April Hutchinson". April Hutchinson. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ "NAPF Records". North American Powerlifting Federation. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "NAPF Classic Records". Google Docs. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Sims, Jane (September 2, 2022). "Weight off her shoulders: Sobriety powers London weightlifter to podium". The London Free Press. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ "2021 CPU Central Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships". www.openpowerlifting.org. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Powerlifting Rankings". Open Powerlifting.
  7. 1 2 3 "April Hutchinson". www.openpowerlifting.org. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ Winders, Jason (November 3, 2023). "Hutchinson's journey one of resilience, hope". Gameday London. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  9. ↑ Lale, Brent (March 16, 2022). "London, Ont. woman lifts her way to national championship in story of addiction, recovery and perseverance". CTV News. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Powerlifter removed from Museum London exhibit after comments on trans athletes". CBC News. November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Kirkey, Sharon (June 15, 2024). "Faster higher stronger?; Canada and the International Olympic Committee have passed the divisive issue of trans inclusion for elite athletes down to the individual sports, upping the tension, confusion and controversy leading up to Paris 2024". The Windsor Star. pp. C1, C3. ProQuest 3068513724 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Powerlifter says ban due to criticism of rival". The Gazette. November 14, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Bieman, Jennifer (January 9, 2024). "Punished for stance on trans athletes, London powerlifter's ban reduced". The London Free Press. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  14. ↑ Oldcorn, Christopher (May 25, 2025). "April Hutchinson speaks to packed house about protecting women's sports from men". Western Standard.
  15. ↑ "2022 NAPF North American Regional Powerlifting Championships". www.openpowerlifting.org. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
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