Pumping iron: Special Olympics athletes compete in first powerlifting competition since start of pandemic

Quentin Wong squats 305 pounds Saturday at the West Hawaii Special Olympics Regional Powerlifting Competition at Imua Iron. (Photos by Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Shawn Lehano performs a squat during the Regional Powerlifting Competition at Imua Iron.

Isaiah Wong squats 345 pounds Saturday at the West Hawaii Special Olympics Regional Powerlifting Competition at Imua Iron. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Shawn Lehano deadlifts 140 pounds Saturday at the West Hawaii Special Olympics Regional Powerlifting Competition at Imua Iron. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Isaiah Wong deadlifts 420 pounds Saturday at the West Hawaii Special Olympics Regional Powerlifting Competition at Imua Iron. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Denise Lindsey, left, Quentin Wong, Shawn Lehano, Imua Iron owner Darren Elisaga, Isaiah Wong, Zachary Trim and Kalei Lee at the West Hawaii Special Olympics Regional Power Lifting Competition on Saturday. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Zachary Trim celebrates after his deadlift Saturday at the West Hawaii Special Olympics Regional Powerlifting Competition at Imua Iron. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Quentin Wong presses 235 pounds during a warmup Saturday at the West Hawaii Special Olympics Regional Powerlifting Competition at Imua Iron. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Five West Hawaii Special Olympics athletes competed Saturday at Imua Iron in the nonprofit’s first powerlifting competition since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.