Gold. Gold. Silver. Bronze. That was the medal count for Thrive participant Alex Bevacqua at his first Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, held August 11 to 15, 2026, in Medicine Hat, Alta.
Competing in his first Nationals in powerlifting, a national qualifying competition that brought together more than 1,700 competitors from every province and territory, Alex delivered results to be proud of.
- Gold, all-around powerlifting (his combined total across all three lifts)
- Gold, bench press (300 lbs)
- Silver, deadlift (413 lbs)
- Bronze, squat (281 lbs)
Alex has been powerlifting for eight years now. As Durham Region does not currently have a Special Olympics powerlifting program, he makes the drive to train with a program in Northumberland instead, a commitment that says a lot about how much this sport means to him. He has also trained in the past with Abilities Centre’s Academy for Student Athlete Development, known as A.S.A.D.
Abilities Centre has been part of his routine since 2023, when he joined the Thrive program. His favourite time is training alongside his dad, turning workouts into a family tradition.
Congratulations, Alex, on an incredible debut. Abilities Centre is proud to celebrate Alex and this milestone in his powerlifting journey.