One For All Fitness delivers on vow to welcome everyone

A Calgary gym is raising the bar on what it means to be inclusive.

“One For All Fitness is basically inviting,” owner Alex Saretsky said. “I wanted it so basically people could feel welcome when they come in the doors.”

Saretsky opened the doors at One For All last October and this weekend will host a Special Olympics power lifting competition. Twelve athletes, including married couple Spencer Smith and Rachel Ryan, will be competing in the season-ending event.

Both train at One for All and will be looking for personal bests at the event.

“For dead lift, I can do 275 (lbs),” Ryan said. “My goal is to try at 300.”

Saretsky also coaches the pair and says they are very much part of the tight-knit community his gym has created.

“They fit in very well. They’re probably the nicest people on the planet. They’re always willing to help and just seeing them here, pushing really hard… motivates everyone else to work harder as well.”

“That’s kind of just what we are here…a friend, a family. That’s the kind of vibe we like to give off.”

Smith, who started power lifting 13 years ago at the age of 37, agrees.

“People around are cheering you on and stuff like that.”

His wife, however, started much later and only after making a deal with her husband.

“I was in figure skating and he said if I join power lifting, he’ll try figure skating,” 51-year-old Ryan said with a laugh.

Smith delivered on his end of the deal but says he much prefers power lifting.

The public is invited to attend the event on Saturday at 11 a.m. at One for All Fitness on 542 42 Ave SE.