From Owen Sound to the World Stage: Lyndsay Budgell Heading to Spain for Kettlebell World Championship

A local athlete and small business owner will represent Canada at the 2025 Kettlebell World Championship in Spain. Learn more about her inspiring journey and how you can show your support.

Lyndsay Budgell’s path to the world stage is built on years of strength, grit, and community spirit. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, she moved to Owen Sound in 2018 to establish her own massage therapy practice—originally known as Shallow Lake Massage Therapy and now thriving as Total Recovery Massage Therapy & Wellness Studio.

But beyond her role as an RMT and business owner, Lyndsay is a powerhouse in the international kettlebell community.

A long-time kettlebell athlete and coach, Lyndsay entered her first competition in 2010 and hasn’t looked back. Over the years, she’s earned multiple gold medals and holds the prestigious rank of Master of Sport in the 10-minute Long Cycle—a testament to both her endurance and technical skill.

This May, she’ll represent Canada once again at the 2025 International Kettlebell Marathon Federation (IKMF) World Championship in Spain, following her impressive showing last year in Nyborg, Denmark.

Her impact goes far beyond personal competition. Since founding True North Kettlebell Club in 2022, Lyndsay has added a second coach and now mentors three of her own athletes, each training to represent Team Canada on the world stage. She’s also a certified judge with both the IKMF and the Canadian Kettlebell Alliance (CKA), further cementing her leadership in the sport.

Whether she’s training, coaching, or treating clients in her wellness studio, Lyndsay’s passion for health and performance shines through. Earlier this year, she inspired others with her story at the International Women’s Day event at Cobble Beach—and now, she's gearing up to inspire on an even bigger stage.

We had a chance to chat with Lyndsay to talk about her journey, her drive, and what it means to represent her country while staying rooted in the Owen Sound community. Plus, you’ll see how to support Lyndsay on her road to compete in Spain.

Q: You’ve represented Canada before on the world stage in Denmark, and now you’re headed to Spain for the IKMF Kettlebell World Championship. What does it mean to you to compete at this level, and how does it feel to wear the Canadian flag while competing?

Lyndsay Budgell:

“Competing on the world stage feels almost unbelievable! It’s an incredible honor to represent Canada and be part of changing the societal standard of what an athlete is "supposed" to look like. In kettlebell sport, success isn’t defined by age or body type—it’s about putting in the work, honing your skill, and dedicating yourself to the process.

Kettlebell lifting has been a part of my life for so long, and to now compete at this level doing something I love is truly surreal.

Competing at this level gives me the opportunity to represent alongside my coach, which is incredibly rewarding and a full-circle moment in my journey and I’m also one of five strong Canadian women on this stage—it’s empowering, and it reinforces my passion for growing this sport.

This journey isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s about building a stronger community and inspiring others to see what’s possible. I feel like this is just the beginning.

Q: What first drew you to kettlebell, and how has your journey evolved to reach the world championship level?

Lyndsay Budgell:

“I discovered kettlebell sport during one of the most challenging periods of my life. I was in an abusive relationship, stuck in a toxic work environment, and dealing with a medical diagnosis that required treatment.

Kettlebell training became my escape—a way to reclaim my strength, both physically and mentally. My coach introduced me to kettlebell sport, and from that moment on, I never looked back.

What drew me in was not just the versatility of kettlebells (they travel well, making training accessible anywhere), but the mental resilience the sport demands. The work I put into refining my technique and challenging my limits, while physically tough, felt easier than the battles I was facing in my personal life.

I started competing nationally and throughout North America in 2010, at a time when large-scale world events didn’t even exist.

My journey with Team Canada began with the 30-minute half marathon event—lifting a kettlebell continuously for 30 minutes without putting it down and aiming for a high number of reps within that 30-minute set to achieve a title and rank. That level of endurance training built a mental toughness I never knew I had.

Now that international world championships are a reality, it’s completely changed the game for athletes like me, who have made kettlebell sport a way of life. It has also fueled my passion for coaching, and I’m proud to say that some of my athletes are on their own path to qualifying for world competitions.

Q: You wear many hats. How do you balance running a business, coaching others, and training for elite competition?

Lyndsay Budgell:

“Honestly, I’m still trying to figure that out! Balancing business ownership, coaching, and elite-level training requires a lot of early mornings, late nights, and home training sessions in my garage. I would also say that my recovery is just as important as the training itself, so I make sure to carve out time to train hard, but recover harder.

I’m fortunate to have an incredible support system. My front desk staff and RMT’s at the clinic help keep things running smoothly, and my athletes and club members are incredibly understanding when I need to step back and focus on my own training. Sometimes, it simply comes down to accepting that my days will be long and packed.

At the end of the day, my motivation comes from wanting to be the best representation of myself—not just for me, but for Canada. That drive makes every early morning and late-night session worth it.”

Q: How do you prepare mentally for competitions, and what strategies do you use to push through fatigue and stay in the zone?

Lyndsay Budgell:

“The mental aspect of kettlebell sport is often the hardest to work through. There are days when, physically, I feel ready, but mentally, the idea of lifting 20 kilograms for 30 minutes feels overwhelming. Ironically, those are often the days when I get my best work in—because I press through the mental fog and learn something new about myself in the process.

Some of the key mental strategies I use are meditation and visualization. When I lift, I focus on finding a rhythm, allowing my mind to enter a meditative state. I stay conscious of my form, breath, and pace, but I tune out distractions—it becomes just me, the kettlebell, and the clock.

Leading up to competition, I take this a step further with intense visualization. In the two weeks before an event, I mentally rehearse my entire lift from start to finish, multiple times a week. I sit with the feeling of excitement at the start, visualize every rep, feel the pace of the bell, acknowledge the exhaustion when it sets in, and channel my determination to keep going.

I picture the platform, the chalk in the air, the weight of the bell in my hands, and finally, I let a deep sense of pride and gratitude wash over me as I hear all supporters in the room cheer for the final minute to complete the lift. It’s really more than just imagining success—it’s about creating future memories for myself and aligning with the energy of success.

Above all, I offer myself a lot of grace. Balancing this level of training and competition with the responsibilities of running a business, coaching, and my personal life, means I must be kind to myself.

Reminding myself that I am doing my absolute best, despite everything I juggle, gets me further than any strategy out there.”

Q: You’ve created a strong kettlebell community here in Owen Sound. What do you love most about coaching and sharing this sport with others?

Lyndsay Budgell:

“What I love most about coaching is seeing people show up for themselves. I know that not every day is easy, but they still make the effort, and that in itself is an accomplishment. I also love sharing the idea that fitness doesn’t have to feel like a struggle.

As a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), I deeply understand the importance of honoring what your body is capable of. I want people to see that they can challenge themselves physically without pushing into injury. Kettlebell training fits perfectly with that philosophy—it builds strength and resilience while complementing recovery and overall well-being.

Beyond fitness, I’ve seen this sport change lives in powerful ways. One of my athletes, for example, started training with me back when I was running classes in local parks. She had undergone two somewhat major surgeries and was working on regaining her strength.

Through kettlebell training, she not only recovered but came back stronger—so much so that she’s now hitting qualifying numbers in competition and will be securing her spot for the IKMF 2026 World Championship.

But the impact of this community goes beyond competition. I’ve seen people work through grief, celebrate major milestones, build friendships, and heal in ways they never expected—all within the space of a kettlebell class.

It’s more than just swinging kettlebells; it’s about lifting each other up. I love this little community we’ve built together, and I’m so proud to be part of it.

How to Support Lyndsay on Her Road to Spain

As Lyndsay gears up to represent Canada once again on the international stage, the biggest hurdle isn’t physical—it’s financial. Like many athletes in niche sports, she faces the reality that there’s no provincial or federal funding for Canadian kettlebell competitors. The cost of international competition—from flights and accommodations to uniforms and entry fees—adds up quickly. And as a small business owner, juggling those expenses alongside the day-to-day demands of running a wellness practice is no small feat.

That’s why community support makes such a profound difference. “Last year, the support I received from Owen Sound and beyond was overwhelming,” she says. “I’ll never be able to fully express how grateful I am for it.”

This year, Lyndsay is offering three ways for people to get involved:

• Business Sponsorships: Local businesses can partner with Lyndsay to support her journey while being recognized for backing a Canadian athlete on the world stage.

• Limited-Edition Team Canada T-Shirts: Show your support by wearing it—these exclusive shirts are available for purchase and help fund her travel and competition costs.

• GoFundMe Campaign: For those who’d prefer to support from a distance, online donations are welcome and deeply appreciated.

All the details can be found on the True North Kettlebell Club website at www.truenorthkettlebellclub.ca, on Instagram at @truenorthkettlebellclub, or by reaching out directly via email at truenorthkbclub@gmail.com.

Lyndsay emphasizes that support comes in many forms—financial contributions are powerful, but so is simply helping to spread the word. “Sharing my story helps raise awareness not just for me, but for kettlebell athletes across Canada,” she says.

“One day, I hope to build long-term sponsorship opportunities that support not only my journey, but the entire national team, so we can keep showing the world what Canadian athletes are capable of,” Lyndsay adds.