sylvio bourque
A CANADIAN LEGEND
SYLVIO BOURQUE
Sylvio stands as Canada’s most decorated athlete at the WAF World Championships, securing a remarkable total of 26 medals.
​
When thinking about the nicest Canadian arm wrestlers, many names can come to mind. At the top of most people’s list would be Sylvio Bourque from New Brunswick. Sylvio possessed a remarkable ability to make everyone feel like the most captivating and significant person in the room during interactions. His infectious optimism and Acadian sense of humor left a lasting impression. Beyond being recognized as one of the kindest Canadian arm wrestlers, Sylvio stands as Canada’s most decorated athlete at the WAF World Championships, securing a remarkable total of 26 medals.
​
From a very young age Sylvio exhibited a keen interest in an active and athletic lifestyle. At 13 he was inspired by the strength of his big brother Felix and started weight training eventually competing in bodybuilding and powerlifting. Though experiencing moderate success, Sylvio's arm wrestling journey commenced after clinching victory at a competition in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent in February 1979. This win ignited his passion for the sport.
​
​
Sylvio and his brother Edouard eagerly participated in every arm wrestling competition they could find. In 1979, after triumphing in the 160lb class at a local tournament, Sylvio went on to claim the overall title by competing against all category winners that day. Full of confidence, Sylvio and Edouard set their sights on the National Championships in Toronto, a televised event by CTV Wide World of Sports. Again, Sylvio won his class and emerged as the National Champion for the first time, earning an all-expense-paid trip to Kansas City for the World Championships. Among the Canadian team that year were two Albertans named Tony Senger and John Miazdzyk. After worlds, Sylvio decided to move to Alberta to train with Tony and John.
​
Sylvio's arm wrestling adventures in the 80s took him to numerous tournaments across North America, with a standout performance in Manitoba in 1984, where he secured first place in six out of eight categories he entered. Winning a 2nd and a 3rd place in the other 2 classes.
​
In 1992, Sylvio broadened his horizons by attending the World Armwrestling Championship in Tokyo, Japan, earning a bronze medal. Subsequent years saw him claim bronze in Moscow, Russia (1994), and Sao Paulo, Brazil (1995), all under the banner of the World Armwrestling Championship (WAWC).
​
In 1999, Sylvio organized the Canadian National Championships in Grande-Digue, New Brunswick, showcasing his dedication to promoting arm wrestling in his region. Despite the administrative responsibilities, Sylvio reached the podium and received the John Miazdzyk award, recognizing individuals for their dedication in the Sport of Armwrestling a poignant recognition due to his past training with John in Alberta.
​
Throughout the years Sylvio realized that if he wanted to attain his ultimate goal of winning a world championship, he could not solely rely on strength alone. He enlisted the help of a physiotherapist and studied nutrition as well as the mechanics of armwrestling in the hopes of getting himself to the best possible shape he could be. It became a science for him. With many sacrifices and perseverance, he finally reached his goal of becoming a world champion at the 1999 WAF World Championships in Tokyo, Japan where more than 1600 competitors and 50 countries attended. Sylvio finally returned home with a world medal in the color he had been working towards.
With all the accomplishments Sylvio had throughout his long career in armwrestling, he still credits one of his most memorable and favorite moments when his brother Edouard Bourque won his first National title in North Bay in 2002. Both brothers qualified for the world championships held in Illionois USA that year and their hometown held a community breakfast fundraiser in their honor. They did not disappoint their friends and family, they both won bronze.
Sylvio and his brother Edouard Bourque
Sylvio's Titles
National GOLD Medals
26
WAF World Medals
6
13
7
* 3 Additional World medals with WAWC
(World Federation before WAF)
At the end of his armwrestling career Sylvio had amassed quite the resume winning tournaments in 10 Canadian provinces and winning medals on 5 different continents. Recognizing his extraordinary contributions, Sylvio was inducted into the CAWF Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Nova Scotia Armwrestling Association Hall of Fame in 2018. The Nova Scotia Armwrestling Association established the Sylvio Bourque Lifetime Achievement Award, presented annually at the Atlantic Championships.
Despite tragically passing away on August 17th 2021 at the age of 62. Sylvio made sure to always enjoy life to its fullest.
A heartfelt thank you to the Bourque family for allowing us to focus on Sylvio’s exceptional armwrestling journey and providing us with much of the content in this article. Un grand merci a vous tous!
Sylvio with friend and fellow Canadian armwrestling legend Dave Hicks
Richard Blanchard
“I first met Sylvio in Alberta in 1982. I have only good things to say about him and the way he connected with people in a friendly manner. I was happy to call him my friend."
Dave Hicks
“His excitement inspired me to want to train harder and return for the next couple of years. We bonded over the years where we competed at several international events”