09-08-2025
Local athlete claims Masters 3 title at WPC competition
Con Amore School's woodwork teacher Johan Steenkamp proved he's just as strong outside the classroom as he is inside it, clinching first place in the Masters 3 (100kg) division at the World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) event held at Urban Shack in Benoni on June 15.
The veteran lifter impressed judges and spectators alike with a 240kg squat, 140kg bench press, and 280kg deadlift, marking another high point in a powerlifting career that spans more than two decades.
Steenkamp has long been a powerhouse in the sport, having held numerous national and world records under the WPC.
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His journey began 21 years ago, competing in equipped categories with the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), where athletes use squat suits, bench shirts, and knee wraps for added lift capacity.
He represented South Africa at the 2007 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand, finishing fourth overall. The following year, during the World IPF event in Potchefstroom, he earned his SA Protea colours as a coach.
'I feel my hard work and dedication paid off,' said Steenkamp. 'At the end of the day, what you put in is what you get out.'
In 2014, Steenkamp joined the Rhino Powerlifting Club (RPC), and by 2018, transitioned fully into the WPC, where he says he found his true competitive home.
Since then, he has racked up nine South African records and five world records, including standout lifts like a 285kg squat, 160kg bench press, and 285kg deadlift, with a total lift of 730kg.
His international appearances include the 2019 WPC Championships in Lahti, Finland, where, despite battling severe cramps, he managed a total of 686kg.
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Later that year, he dominated the SA WPC Nationals, winning the overall Masters title and breaking the Master Two (90kg) deadlift record.
In 2021, he returned to the national stage to set a new world record with a 275kg squat, cementing his status as one of South Africa's most enduring lifters.
His journey hasn't been without setbacks. In 2022, he tore his right shoulder's supraspinatus muscle and suffered a minor tear in the left shortly after.
After nearly a year out, he returned to training in July 2022, with the support of his youngest son, Franco, who now trains alongside him.
'Franco keeps me focused and motivated,' he said. 'Training together is special.'
Steenkamp's resilience runs deeper than injury recovery. Diagnosed in 2001 with an enlarged blood vessel on the brain, doctors warned him against heavy training. But with successful treatment and his oncologist's encouragement, he returned to the sport and never looked back.
'Powerlifting gave me a new perspective on life,' he said.
'It's taught me discipline, mental strength, and patience – qualities I use daily as a teacher working with special needs learners.'
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He credits much of his success to coach and mentor Pieter De Waal. 'He taught me never to give up. Powerlifting is a sport that builds both mental and physical endurance.'
Now, Steenkamp is focused on his next challenge – the 2025 WPC World Championships, set to take place in Durban on November 6.
'I'd like to thank my wife Louise for her support, my eldest son Jason for managing my nutrition, and Franco for being my daily motivation,' he said. 'Their support keeps me strong and focused as I prepare for the Worlds.'
