Winnipeg’s Vivian Santos recounts arm wrestling wins
Winnipeg City Councillor Dominates Arm Wrestling Scene
Vivian Santos, a city councillor in Winnipeg, is not just a force to be reckoned with in municipal politics. Outside of city hall, she is a powerhouse in the world of arm wrestling, boasting an impressive record of seven consecutive provincial championships.
Santos’s journey into arm wrestling began when she was working as an assistant to her predecessor and former boss, Mike Pagtakhan, who represented the Point Douglas ward for over a decade. Inspired by Pagtakhan, Santos decided to give arm wrestling a try after he invited her to join a group of arm wrestlers at Sinclair Park.
“He kept bugging me and eventually, he said, ‘I’ve got a bunch of girls and ladies that want to arm wrestle. There’s a group of us. Come on out to Sinclair Park,'” Santos shared in an interview with CTV Morning Live Winnipeg.
From that moment on, Santos was hooked. She made her debut in the provincial championship in 2015, clinching first place with her left arm and second place with her right. Since then, she has dominated the Manitoba provincial championships, securing first place for seven consecutive years, in addition to winning three Canadian national championships.
Despite her success in arm wrestling, Santos never anticipated the sport would become such a prominent part of her life. With a background in athletics, including soccer and mixed martial arts, Santos found a new passion in arm wrestling that has brought her continued success.
Santos’s next challenge will be at a December 7 qualifier for the King of the North competition at the Hockey For All Centre. Those who advance from this qualifier will have the opportunity to compete at a strongman and bodybuilding competition in Ohio hosted by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger in February 2025.
“It’s a free event. Come out and watch all the professionals from across Canada coming out for the Arnold qualifier,” Santos encouraged.
– With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé
