We’ve all been at the gym where that guy in the corner by the squat rack and free weights is being obnoxiously loud with his workouts.
Whether it’s slamming weights on the ground, grunting loudly, or just staring anyone in sight down, there are several reasons why some people don’t feel comfortable in certain gyms.
Normally, we’d commend somebody for going up to an obnoxious gym goer and telling them to show some respect for other gym members, but in this story, that’s not the case whatsoever. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.
19-year-old Montreal man Charles-Antoine Lalonde was attacked during a deadlift set in the at the Greenfield Park location of Buzzfit because of the noise the weight produced when hitting the ground, and luckily escaped without any serious injuries.
Buzzfit, primarily made up of inexperienced members, told the Montreal Gazette that Lalonde had been asked to place black mats on the floor to mitigate the sound and impact, but that he was still allowed to carry on the exercise.
“We are not equipped for the hardcore workout he was doing, said Craig Johnson, head of operations for Buzzfit, who offered Lalonde a lifetime family membership to the gym.
“He was lifting at an elite level of powerlifting, which requires specialized facilities.”
The person that confronted Lalonde and kicked the barbell that weighed 350-lbs out was not an employee of Buzzfit but was banned as a result of the incident. An employee of the gym was also handed a suspension as well for not diffusing the situation.
The attacker can be heard yelling “you’re out” before pushing Lalonde into a wall.
“You’re ego-lifting,” he yelled, as if he’s never before heard such a sound in a gym that is often equipped with relatable noises that typically blend into ambience for the average gym lifter.
Lalonde’s trainer, Pete Rubish, a powerlifting coach based in Tennessee, uploaded the video to YouTube that has since totalled just under 5 million views as of Saturday afternoon. Rubish spoke to the Gazette and offered his take of the situation.
“I think it came down to the guy picking on someone he thought would be an easy target,” he said. “I think that’s what sparked the outrage. It’s a classic example of someone not picking on someone his own size.”
Lalonde reported the incident to Montreal Police, and went into further detail on the “slight pain from the deadlift or him kicking the bar down in my nuts.”
