World class weightlifter, Aurora Waller

by Lucille Nolasco

Aurora Dawny Venzon Waller of Winnipeg represented Canada at the 2025 International Masters Weightlifting Association (IMWA) World Masters Weightlifting competition, held from September 4 to 13, at the Westgate Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Waller finished third in the world for the clean and jerk and third in the world overall Olympic Weightlifting total for women age 45 to 49, weighing in the 53 kg category.

The Sisler high school teacher finished first in the World Super Total Championships, which is a combination of her Olympic weightlifting total and her best deadlift total.

These achievements are the fruits of her hard work and determination after being sidelined by a serious knee injury.

“My dream of competing in Worlds 2025 came to an end as I could hardly walk or even get to the bottom of the squat. For almost a year straight I dedicated my days in the gym rehabilitating and gaining my strength back both physically and mentally and thought that ‘if I could get back onto that competition floor again, I would be so happy’”, Waller said.

The 2025 IMWA competition was Dawny’s second time representing Canada on the world stage. She previously competed in the 2022 National Weightlifting Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick, where she won gold and broke the record for the heaviest clean and jerk for her age and weight category. This qualified her to compete at the Worlds 2022 in Florida.

The 2025 International Masters Weightlifting Association (IMWA) World Masters Weightlifting Championships included both traditional and adaptive weightlifting categories for men and women and featured a Super Total Deadlift Competition each night.

During the annual event, some 881 athletes from 62 countries competed for new world masters’ records. A special Super Total Deadlift Competition was held exclusively for master weightlifters who competed on the same day.

The event this year was also the first edition of the Master Strength Sports Festival.

For results and further information, you can visit the official IMWA website, as well as the Weightlifting Canada website.