
By Brandon Kinsella
Over the weekend of September 13-15, history was made in the 2019 International Powerlifting League at the Olympia Invitational in Las Vegas, and Guam Powerlifting athlete Grace Tacuyan-Witt was the reason for it. At the competition, she broke both national and world records in the 90kg Master’s Division (Age 40-44) Raw Deadlift category, lifting 220 kg (485 lbs.), which equals more than double her body weight!
Grace was ranked #1 in her age and division for deadlifts and #3 in the world! She described the emotions following the record-breaking victory,
“I felt that all the hard work I put into training was well worth it. Sometimes you question yourself in training and wonder if this is all worth it, and when you win, the taste of victory is sweeter than any piece of cake you can have.”
Tacuyan-Witt represents the United States Powerlifting Association in her meets, but she does all of her training here at home for competitions. Guam does not have its own Federation, but we are currently an affiliate in the USPA.
She began competing at the age of 36 and is now 42. Her message to aspiring athletes on the island of Guam is this:
“It’s never too late to try something new, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from. You can be a champion in whatever sport, if the right effort is exerted, you give 100% and you focus on yourself with a belief that nothing can stop you.”
Tacuyan-Witt trained for 10 weeks in the moments leading up to the event but started prepping herself mentally as early as 12 weeks out. The hard work and sacrifice has definitely paid off, but her work is not finished. Tacuyan-Witt wants to help other powerlifters achieve their goals and plans to coach these next few months,
“Right now, I plan to take some time off, possibly 3-6 months. I’ll be coaching and getting a group of lifters ready for their upcoming meet in March. But if I could actually get to the level I need to while coaching, I may also compete. But the focus right now is coaching.”
Aside from competing, Tacuyan-Witt also represents Guam in the USPA as the Chairperson for the island. In 2016, Guam had no representation in the USPA. In an effort to change this, she reached out to the VP of the Federation to establish Guam as an affiliate, so that those who come from Guam can establish “State” (or island) records.
Since the establishment of Guam as an affiliate state, 13 lifters have travelled off-island to compete. Tacuyan-Witt is also a coach and specializes in beginners and competition preparation.


GPS Sports Calendar
October 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for September
30th
Events for October
2nd
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
Events for October
5th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
6th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
Events for October
9th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA M.S. BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for October
12th
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for October
13th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
BRAWL 3
Events for October
14th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
14th
Events for October
15th
Events for October
17th
MEN’S SOCCER: GUAM V SINGAPORE
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
17th
Events for October
20th
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
Events for October
22nd
Events for October
24th
Events for October
28th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
29th
I MAS METGOT COMPETITION (GUAM’S STRONGEST MAN & WOMAN)
Events for October
29th

MMA/Boxing
BRAWL 3 TO PACK A PUNCH WITH LOADED CARD
COMING SOON …
- High school girls volleyball playoffs
- Brawl 3: Oct 13
- Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29