Canadian National Champion
Ontario Champion
Provincial & National Records
Weight Classes Won
Meet your coach
Nikolas Varbanov is a nine-time Canadian Champion in Olympic Weightlifting, competing across four weight categories (56, 62, 69, and 73kg) with over 50 Ontario and Canadian records to his name. NCCP certified and a Registered Massage Therapist (CMTO), Nikolas brings both elite athletic experience and sports rehabilitation expertise to his coaching at Box & Lift.
His background is rooted in the Bulgarian school of weightlifting — a technical, performance-driven approach to the snatch and clean and jerk that he applies to every athlete he works with, from beginners learning their first lift to competitive athletes chasing personal records.
/ What sets Nik apart
National Titles
- 9× Canadian Weightlifting Champion (2014–2019)
- 6× Junior Canadian Champion
- 3× Senior Canadian Champion
- Titles across 56, 62, 69 and 73 kg classes
Provincial Titles
- 13× Ontario Weightlifting Champion (2012–2019)
- 8× Junior Ontario Champion
- 5× Senior Ontario Champion
- 50+ Ontario & Canadian records set
Credentials
- Advanced Diploma, Massage Therapy — Centennial College (2022)
- Registered Massage Therapist — CMTO
- NCCP Certified Coach (Level 1)
- OWA Level 4 Technical Official
Coaching
- Assistant Olympic Weightlifting coach at Varbanov School of Weightlifting
- Online programming for lifters of all levels
- Trains first-time lifters through national-level competitors
- Sports massage & injury prevention specialist
Family & Background
- Born in Shumen, Bulgaria — fluent in Bulgarian
- Son of Alex Varbanov: 1988 Olympic bronze medalist
- Father is a 3× World Champion (1983, 1985, 1986) and still holds two world records
- Trained in the classical Bulgarian weightlifting system
- Hosts summer training camps in Bulgaria with Olympic-champion guests
Profiles
- Instagram — @varbanov216
- Varbanov Weightlifting on Instagram
- Varbanov School of Weightlifting
- BarBend Athlete Profile
- Inside the Games Feature