12-day championship event brings competitors from more than 30 countries to downtown Reno, including two homegrown athletes
RENO, Nev. (Oct. 15, 2026) – Reno Tahoe is setting the world stage for masters powerlifting.
Powerlifting America will host the 2026 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Masters Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championships at the Reno Ballroom now through Oct. 25, in partnership with American Iron Gym, a weightlifting and powerlifting facility in Reno, and Visit Reno Tahoe.
“Bringing a world championship to Reno Tahoe is exciting, but seeing our own local athletes compete on that stage makes it even more meaningful,” said Mike Larragueta, President and CEO of Visit Reno Tahoe. “We’re proud to be a destination that attracts world-class competition and is home to incredible athletes who represent Northern Nevada at the highest levels. Events like this showcase the strength of our sports community and the value of partnerships like the one we’ve built with American Iron Gym.”
Set across 12 days, the 2026 IPF World Masters Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championships will welcome powerlifters from more than 30 countries to take the stage in classic and equipped lifting for Masters 1-4 divisions.
For two Northern Nevada athletes, the championship holds special significance.
Reno-based powerlifter Doug Rawson began lifting recreationally before entering competitive powerlifting in recent years. Training at American Iron Gym, Rawson has won competitions at Reno’s Legion Sports Fest for two consecutive years, placed second at the 2025 Powerlifting America Classic and Equipped Age Division Nationals, and earned third place at the 2026 Powerlifting America Open Nationals in Lake Tahoe.
Fellow Reno competitor KJ Cameron began training in 2014 with a goal of competing internationally. Since then, the American Iron Gym athlete has represented Team USA at national and international championships and holds Nevada state records in his division. A fourth-generation Nevadan, Cameron also serves his community as a deputy with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Both athletes qualified at the Classic and Equipped Age Division Nationals in Corpus Christi, Texas this year, earning the opportunity to compete against some of the best powerlifters right here in their hometown.
As athletes prepare to take the stage, each session will livestream for free on Powerlifting America’s official YouTube page. Spectators are welcome to attend each session by purchasing a $20 day pass at the Reno Ballroom.
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About Visit Reno Tahoe
Reno Tahoe is a dynamic, four-season resort destination in a spectacular natural setting – where America’s largest alpine lake meets “The Biggest Little City in the World.” Here, genuine Western heritage and hospitality are served up alongside a region in the midst of an exciting transformation, offering travelers world-class attractions, outdoor adventure and an annual calendar of cultural, culinary and sporting events. Reno Tahoe is marketed by the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (Visit Reno Tahoe), an organization established in 1959 to promote convention and tourism business in Washoe County, which includes Reno, Sparks and North Lake Tahoe. For more information, go to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.
Media Contact
Nicolle Lowe
Director of Communications
Visit Reno Tahoe
