Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet

Biography

Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet first competed internationally at the 2016 FISU World University Championships where she finished 10th, just two years after getting started in weightlifting. The next year she finished eighth at the Pan American Championships in the 58kg division and fifth at the Commonwealth Championships in the 53kg. She qualified for her first IWF World Championships in both categories, ultimately competing in 58kg and placing 14th.  

In 2018, Leblanc-Bazinet represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. She earned her first international podium, taking home a bronze medal, but suffered a back injury in the process. After a full summer of rehab, she returned healthy for the IWF World Championships where she finished 19th despite putting up a then-personal best total of 190kg.

Leblanc-Bazinet won the 55kg title at the Las Vegas International to begin 2019. She then finished fifth at both the Pan American Championships and Lima 2019 Pan Am Games. At the IWF World Championships, Leblanc-Bazinet lifted her way into the top-10 by breaking two Canadian 55kg records that had stood for almost 10 years as she lifted 91kg in the snatch and 201kg total.  

Her lone international event of 2020 was the World Cup in Rome where she finished fifth. She participated in the postponed Pan American Championships in 2021 but only recorded a lift in the clean and jerk. Leblanc-Bazinet made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. 

A Little More About Rachel

Getting into the Sport: Was a latecomer to weightlifting, not beginning to train seriously until she was 26… Came from a CrossFit background… Loves that weightlifting is a competition against herself… Outside Interests: Owns and operates a CrossFit training centre… Supports Dispensaire diététique de Montréal, a community organization with a mission to foster optimal infant health… Graduated from the Université de Montréal in 2016… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Never settle for mediocrity”… Twin sister Camille won the 2014 CrossFit Games and is a member of the American weightlifting development program… Has attended all her competitions with Canadian Olympic teammate and training partner Tali Darsigny…