SUN CITY, South Africa – Skidmore-Tynan High School student Elaina Canales went from competing against the best high school lifters in Texas to standing atop a world championship podium.
Canales, 16, won the gold medal in the girls Sub-Junior 84-kilogram equipped division at the 2026 International Powerlifting Federation Sub-Junior and Junior World Championships in Sun City, South Africa on Aug. 20.
Canales represented the United States as part of a 65-member Powerlifting America contingent. Powerlifting America sent 31 athletes to compete in equipped competition and 34 in classic competition, including 31 Sub-Junior and 34 Junior lifters.
Canales was the youngest athlete on the United States roster. She competed in the women’s equipped Sub-Junior 84-kilogram class.
The trip to South Africa capped a rapid progression for the Skidmore-Tynan lifter.
Canales earned her place on the international stage after winning the women’s equipped 84-kilogram Sub-Junior division at the Powerlifting America Age Division Nationals in May. She totaled 410 kilograms — approximately 904 pounds — at that meet with a 185-kilogram squat, 77.5-kilogram bench press and 147.5-kilogram deadlift.
That performance represented a significant jump from her first Powerlifting America competition earlier in the spring. Canales totaled 337.5 kilograms at the STX Powerhouse Throwdown in April, finishing second in the equipped Sub-Junior 84-plus kilogram division.
Before moving onto the national and international powerlifting stages, Canales put together a successful season for Skidmore-Tynan in Texas high school competition.
She won the 198-pound division at the Class 1A-2A regional meet March 2 with an 850-pound total, including a 345-pound squat, 175-pound bench press and 330-pound deadlift.
Canales went on to compete at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Class 1A-2A state championships, where she finished seventh in her weight class.
Click here to watch video of Canales’ victory.
