April Hutchinson

April-Lea Christina Hutchinson, also known as April Hutchinson, is a Canadian competitive powerlifter from London, Ontario. She is a three-time former Team Canada member and the current Women's North American Powerlifting Federation's M1 84kg+ deadlift record holder. Additionally, she is a women's rights activist, focusing her campaign on advocating in opposition to trans women participating in women's sports.
==Early life==
Hutchinson was born in Toronto, ON, and moved to London, ON, at the age of 5. She attended Hillcrest Public School and Montcalm Secondary School. Her grandfather was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.
Her father, a retired OPP Superintendent, encouraged April to play a variety of sports during her youth, including track and field, ringette, basketball, and tennis. April was the captain of her high school basketball team from 1990 to 1995 and was named MVP. Her mother (now deceased) was an avid runner and devoted her life to living a healthy lifestyle.
==Career Beginnings==
April began her powerlifting career formally in 2021, debuting in the Central Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.
====Achievements and Records====
April Hutchinson has achieved notable success in her career, including:
* Holding records as an NAPF Deadlift champion in her category.
* Personal best lifts include a 402.3 lb squat, a 187.4 lb bench press, and a remarkable 496 lb deadlift.
* Recognition for her performance at the North American Championships, where she won the Masters Award Overall.
==Activism==
April Hutchinson is an advocate for the exclusion of trans women in women's sports divisions. Her activism focuses on lobbying for policies that are in opposition to trans women participating in women's sports.
In early 2023, Hutchinson began engaging with Canadian policymakers to propose legislation aimed at limiting trans women's participation in female sports categories.
Hutchinson has participated in media campaigns and interviews, including Gaines for Girls with Riley Gaines. She has been featured on platforms such as the Tammy Peterson Podcast, and Awake & Winning, where she discusses the impact of sports policies on women's competitions.
In March 2023, Hutchinson participated in a panel discussion at a Canadian conference, advocating for regulations that limit the participation of trans women in the female category.
By mid-2023, she joined forces with international advocacy groups to raise awareness and support for her cause, using the slogan "Keep Female Sports Female." This campaign has generated debate and discussion in Canada and internationally.
==Controversy==
April Hutchinson is a Canadian powerlifter known for her involvement in discussions regarding transgender athletes in sports. She gained attention after being removed from the "Resilient London: Meet Your Neighbours" exhibit at Museum London, Ontario, due to her comments on transgender athletes. Hutchinson, a member of Team Canada, was featured in the "Resilient London: Meet Your Neighbours" exhibit, which highlighted stories of overcoming adversity. Her removal followed her vocal criticism of the Canadian Powerlifting Union's (CPU) policy allowing athletes to participate in categories matching their gender identity, which she argued was unfair to cisgender women.
Hutchinson's stance led to her suspension by the CPU, a decision she appealed and had reduced to 1 year. She has since been seen on platforms like the Piers Morgan's show and other media outlets. The incident has sparked broader discussions on gender inclusion in sports and led to the resignation of the Canadian Powerlifting Union's president, Shane Martin.
==Personal Life==
April's credits powerlifting with helping her overcome her battle with alcoholism.
Category:Living people
Category:Activists from Canada
Category:Activists from Toronto
Category:Canadian female powerlifters
Category:OutKick people
Category:Powerlifters in Canada
Category:Canadian Female Athletes