April-Lea Christina Hutchinson

Personal information
National team	Team Canada
Born	(1976-04-30) April 30, 1976 (age 48) Toronto, Ontario
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Spouse	Chad Yeo
Website	https://www.aprilhutchinson.com
Sport
Sport	Powerlifting
Medal record Women's powerlifting Representing  Canada North American Regional Powerlifting Championships 2022 Panama Masters 1 2022 Cayman Islands Masters 1 Nationals 2022 Newfoundland Masters 1 2023 British Columbia Masters 1 Central Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships 2021 Ontario Masters 1 Ontario Provincials 2022 Ontario Open OPA Masters and Open Provincial Powerlifting Championship 2023 Ontario Masters 1

April-Lea Christina Hutchinson,^[1] 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.^[2] Additionally, she is a women's rights activist.^[3]

Hutchinson was born in Toronto, ON,^[1] and moved to London, ON, at the age of 5. She attended Hillcrest Public School^[4] and Montcalm Secondary School.^[5] Her grandfather was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.

Hutchinson began her powerlifting career formally in 2021, debuting in the Central Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.^[6]

She has achieved notable success in her career, including:

• Holding records as an NAPF Deadlift champion^[2] in her category.
• Personal best lifts^[7] 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,^[8] where she won the Masters Award Overall.

Hutchinson is an advocate for the exclusion of trans women in women's sports divisions.^[9] Her activism focuses on lobbying for policies^[10] that are in opposition to trans women participating in women's sports.

In early 2023 Hutchinson began engaging with Canadian policymakers^[11] to propose legislation aimed at limiting trans women's participation in female sports categories.

In March 2023, Hutchinson participated in a panel discussion^[12] 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^{[13][14][15][16]}

Hutchinson gained attention after being removed from the "Resilient London: Meet Your Neighbours" exhibit^[17][18][19] at Museum London, Ontario, due to her comments on transgender athletes.^{[20][21][22][23][24]} Hutchinson, a member of Team Canada, was featured in the "Resilient London: Meet Your Neighbours" exhibit, which highlighted stories of overcoming adversity. Her removal^[25] followed her vocal criticism^[26][27] 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.

Her stance led to her suspension by the CPU,^[28][29][30] a decision she appealed and had reduced to 1 year. She has since been seen on platforms like the Piers Morgan's show.^[31] and other media outlets.^[32][33][34]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.^[35][36]

Hutchinson credits powerlifting as assisting her to overcome alcoholism^[37][38]