It was more than just a competition this year. This year, it meant more than just out-lifting your competitor. Saturday’s Ultimate Lancer Competition was dedicated to a single motto: “Live like Shiv.”
Longwood sophomore Shiv Sharma tragically passed away in April 2016 in a car accident, but his legacy at Longwood continues to thrive. Sharma competed in previous powerlifting competitions while inspiring others to set the bar higher for themselves.
The competition on April 1 was organized by a student-run committee dedicated to powerlifting, along with students who were close with Sharma. Longwood Campus Recreation Fitness and Wellness Coordinator Alina Cioletti said she realized the amount of impact Shiv had on the Longwood community and the powerlifting competition, while overseeing the committee.
“We changed the name of the competition to the ‘Live Like Shiv’ Ultimate Lancer Powerlifting Competition,” said Cioletti. “There’s more emotion involved with the students this year.”
Sharma’s family attended the event to watch the competitors take on the challenges that Sharma endured himself. Sid Sharma, Shiv’s younger brother, described their relationship’s competitive nature and how Shiv impacted his life.
“I didn’t really get to spend much time with him but he wanted to change his life,” Sid said. “So, I’m really motivated to lose weight myself now.”
This competition was nothing new to recent Longwood graduate Jonathan Davis ‘16, who participated during his time as a student. He now holds multiple powerlifting state records and said he owes his success to Shiv.
“He introduced me to the sport of powerlifting actually,” said Davis. “He’s been a big inspiration for me.”
As someone who knew Sharma personally, exercise science senior Deanna Wetzel reflected on her time spent with him and the enthusiasm he had about the event.
“He was sort of peer pressuring everyone to join,” Wetzel said. “He even paid someone’s entry fee just so they would compete.”
According to Cioletti, this year’s competition was executed differently than previous years. Competitors were divided up into three waves based on gender and weight class. They then pushed through the three powerlifting events - squats, deadlifts and bench press - with each round modeling a true Olympic-style event.
“Last year it was ‘just come one, come all,’ and we’ll just let you know when you lift,” Cioletti said. “This year it is set up so that things run more smoothly.”
The competition is an opportunity for the competitors to show their friends and family the extent of what they can put their bodies through. The roars of the supporters could be heard throughout the gym, encouraging the competitors to push their bodies to the limit.
Powerlifting requires more than a daily gym routine. Competitors take weightlifting to the next level, knowing what their body can handle, and adding another weight.
One by one, the competitors went through the same routine: squatted into a seated position, carrying the weights on their backs before thrusting upwards, letting out a deep breath of exhaust, before doing it all over again. Competing in her second powerlifting competition, Wetzel described how she trained differently this year compared to last year.
“Last year, I had so much fun; so I wanted to do another competition,” said Wetzel. “This year, I wanted to focus more on powerlifting and be more prepared for it.”
The powerlifting competition aimed to give the competitors a chance to show what they are capable of. Winning is one thing, while the feeling of accomplishing a goal outweighs any other prize.
According to Cioletti, next year’s competition will continue on as the #LiveLikeShiv Ultimate Lancer Powerlifting Competition, forever branding a name that changed the lives and inspired many people at Longwood and beyond.
Weightlifting competition held in the honor of Shiv Sharma, a Longwood student who passed away in a car accident a year ago. The competition used the hashtag #livelikeshiv.
Weightlifting competition held in the honor of Shiv Sharma, a Longwood student who passed away in a car accident a year ago. The competition used the hashtag #livelikeshiv.
Weightlifting competition held in the honor of Shiv Sharma, a Longwood student who passed away in a car accident a year ago. The competition used the hashtag #livelikeshiv.
Weightlifting competition held in the honor of Shiv Sharma, a Longwood student who passed away in a car accident a year ago. The competition used the hashtag #livelikeshiv.
Weightlifting competition held in the honor of Shiv Sharma, a Longwood student who passed away in a car accident a year ago. The competition used the hashtag #livelikeshiv.
