Kitchener powerlifter wins three gold and one silver
​at Special Olympics World Games

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by Helen Hall
Kitchener Citizen
July 13, 2023​​

​​Marley Gayler won three gold medals and one silver medal at her first international powerlifting competition.

​​Gayler, of Kitchener, competed in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin from June 17 to 25. Her gold medals were in deadlift, bench and overall points. Her silver was in squat.

​​Her winning weight in deadlift was 130 kg and in bench was 60 kg. Her squat weight was 102.50 kg.

​​She trains with the Special Olympics powerlifting club at CrossFit Kitchener.

Gayler said she enjoyed going to Berlin for the Special Olympics and staying with the Team Canada athletes. Gayler said Team Canada organized some tours for the athletes and they participated in a torch run, toured Munich and saw the Olympic flame, and visited the Holocaust Memorial. 

​​Gayler has played about 10 different summer and winter sports and also works full-time at the Tim Hortons in Ayr.

Owners Lidija Halovanic and Russ Lennon and her coworkers surprised her with a cake and gift bag of items to take with her on her trip to Berlin.

​​“Marley is a great employee,” said Lennon, adding that she is everything that an employer wants - hard working and punctual.

​​In 2017, Marley won three Special Olympic provincial medals - a gold medal in the 5km run, a silver medal in the 3km run, and a bronze medal in the relay.

​​ She cross trains in other sports 3-4 days a week.

​​Gayler’s mother Tannis said that Gayler could not succeed at sports without the support of her many Special Olympic coaches, who are all volunteers. She also said that Tim Hortons has been very supportive of her athletic ambitions.
Gayler on the podium for a gold medal in powerlifting in Berlin.