The following was written by my friend, Rick McClung. Rick played football for 9 years, has been powerlifting for 24 years and also did hammer throwing on a scholarship, so he has some experience in the world of strength sports. This was written more as a personal insight regarding some powerlifters. Rick has the utmost respect for many powerlifters and does not mean to offend them. This statement is aimed at the 'average' powerlifter, in Rick's viewpoint, and they know who they are. If this isn't you, then don't take offense.

By the way, Rick himself is a powerlifter, not a strongman, so he's not being biased towards his own sport!






I'm starting to notice the difference between powerlifting, strongman and the kind of man that enters each of those contests. I began to notice a few things about the "average powerlifter" that differs from the average strongman and I'm ashamed of it...

A couple of years ago when we put on our first record breakers powerlifting meet, everyone was reluctant to load, spot and compete, as if loading and spotting is different than the average workout?---wimps

Before a contest they always call to see what weight class and division has the least competing so they are more likely to get first place?---wimps

Won't enter the Rolling Thunder contest because they think it will affect their lifts or is it they don't have any gear to hide behind?---wimps

A strongman is more of a "strength warrior" - up to do anything to prove his strength is greater than another man's. Even if it looks like he has no chance of winning, he'll sacrifice everything and give it 100% - 100% of the time.

Losing doesn't hurt a damn bit if you gave it 100%.


-Rick McClung



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