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Body and mind: Riley St. Aubin’s lifting journey

Powerlifting transformed Riley St. Aubin ’27 not only physically, but mentally. Through his dedication to the gym and academics, he is constantly pushing to become the best version of himself.
Riley St. Aubin '27 poses from the back, showing off his hard work and dedication to lifting.
Riley St. Aubin ’27 poses from the back, showing off his hard work and dedication to lifting.
Maddux Neukirch

Riley St. Aubin ’27 is a dedicated powerlifter whose strength and discipline set him apart both in the gym and in life. His passion for the sport grew quickly, fueled by a desire to better himself physically and mentally. St. Aubin discovered powerlifting in eighth grade and has used it to transform his body and mindset. He was always involved in sports like football but realized he still didn’t look the way he wanted. “I always felt like I was just skinny,” St. Aubin said. 

As he began high school, St. Aubin started to pursue powerlifting seriously. He quit football and began his five-day-a-week training regimen. The gym gave him an escape from reality, quickly improving all aspects of his life, especially his mental health. “I wasn’t doing too well mentally before, but when I started going to the gym, I found myself and embraced who I really am,” he said. 

Riley St. Aubin ’27 prepares himself for a heavy squat. (Maddux Neukirch)

St. Aubin makes it a goal in life not to be a one-trick pony, so he also has high academic goals. “Consistent straight A’s, taking harder classes to get into good colleges and becoming more well-rounded [are important to me],” St. Aubin said.

His lifting has only affected his schoolwork positively, motivating him to continue being focused throughout the day. He has had to overcome many obstacles throughout his journey, the most significant being injuries. It would be easy for many to be discouraged by injuries and perceive them as failure, but St. Aubin has never let them hold him back and has come to understand it’s just a part of lifting. “Failure is part of it, but you need to keep building yourself up,” he said. 

Since the injuries, St. Aubin has developed habits like rolling out along with stretching every day to try to counter the injuries and feels he’s learned a lot from them. When mentally recovering or preparing, St. Aubin relies a lot on music. “I listen to heavier metal when I’m lifting and more classical outside of lifting to keep myself consistent and chill,” St. Aubin said. 

Riley St. Aubin ’27 looks to his right at the squad rack to make sure he completes his rep properly. (Maddux Neukirch)

 St. Aubin believes that being consistent is a major part of powerlifting and thinks you need it in all facets of life in order to succeed. He would love to make a real career out of powerlifting and has collegiate offers to pursue powerlifting at the next level. St. Aubin understands a professional career might be possible, though, and is interested in the fields of dentistry and radiology after high school. 

St. Aubin has also been quietly building a brand around his fitness journey. He and his friend Jaxx Redmond ’27 run an Instagram page with over 1,000 followers and have even garnered a brand deal. The deal with Gym Culture earns him a ten percent commission on all sales when his code is used at checkout. 

When asked about his main inspirations, St. Aubin cited the Tren Twins, two 23-year-old bodybuilders, weightlifters, and social media influencers. “I love seeing their short selves pushing around crazy amounts of weight,” St. Aubin said.

His biggest motivation, however, is himself. “I set personal goals and don’t compare myself to others,” he said.

St. Aubin highly recommends lifting to others, saying, “Lifting is a great way to express yourself and can be therapeutic.” He advises other high school students interested in powerlifting to try it, saying, “Go for it. It’s hard but possible with commitment and mentality.” 

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