Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Bray. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Cleveland, OH native Ken Bray has a busy few months ahead of him. After having won the Gold Medal at Master’s National Powerlifting Championships and title of National Champion in June, he has been selected to join the US National Powerlifting teams competing in the North American Powerlifting Championships in Panama City, Panama, and the World Masters Powerlifting Championships in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Ken enters the events ranked number one in the United States and number two in the world with a solid look at setting multiple North American and World Powerlifting records. The opening ceremonies in Panama kick off the weekend of Ken’s birthday (he turns 53 on August 13th), so a first international Gold medal win would be quite the birthday gift. But unlike most, this is one gift that will have to be earned, as the reigning Panamanian National Champion and four-time record holder Jose “Borojo” Garcia, along with the best powerlifters from 13 North, Central American, and Caribbean countries aren’t going to just hand the title over to Ken and the US team.
The stakes get even higher in October as Ken travels north of the border to join the US Team in the Canadian island community of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Waiting for him, there will be the reigning world champion Kader Baali of France and Canadian National champion Thomas Kean.
One would think that facing the best and strongest powerlifters from more than thirty countries on all six inhabited continents would be the biggest challenge of his seven-year powerlifting career, but it isn’t. A recurrence of prostate cancer forced Ken to sit out the end of the 2021 season to undergo radiation therapy.
Now, nearly a year post therapy, Ken trains five to six days per week, laser-focused on crossing international borders and bringing much more than two new stamps on his passport back home to Cleveland.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Over the years, my battle with prostate cancer, school, and life took turns preventing me from moving beyond the national level
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I’m not in training or on the platform lifting heavy things, I pay the bills as a commercial actor and model. As far as which one, I’m most proud of… As fun as it is to see myself in the newest commercial for the newest thing, I’d still have to say being known as the best in the world at something (Powerlifting) still wins out
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have a 16lb rabbit named Twinkie that is my roommate and best friend
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kenbray.official
- Youtube: Mrkenbray
- Other: TikTok @kenbray.official
Image Credits
Brayteam Entertainment
