by Shelley R. Lee
He’s benched 551 pounds. He competes in the 163 pound weight class where he holds the world record.
Joe Smith has been power lifting for over 11 years, it’s just something he loves to do. And since it isn’t a way to make a living in this country, he has to incorporate it into his regular work and family life, and that he does. While working full-time at The Andersons, he balances family, home, church, and regular daily work outs.
When you love something like this you have to “make it like breathing.” said Joe.
He has been to international competitions all over the world. His wife of nine years, Kate, hasn’t missed a competition other than once during her pregnancy, and the trip last year to Austria because of the higher expense. Their 16 month old daughter smiled broadly at her Daddy as he humbly shared a bit of his story.
This Anthony Wayne 1995 graduate who always loved baseball and wrestling competition, got hooked on power lifting through, Ralph Brown, a lifter who has competed for over 30 years from the Findlay area.
An interesting fact about power lifting: there is no off-season (or break, for that matter). Joe really can’t take more than a day off or he loses strength. Another interesting fact: there is a lot of drug testing in the sport, and the better a lifter gets the more they will get tested.
In regular workout routines he focuses on improving technique, working on the little details that make a big difference.
Joe is also the National Record Holder in the 148 pound weight class, with a 463 pound bench press. He is the American Record Holder, in the 148 pound weight class, with a 479 pound bench press. Among other accolades too lengthy to list, he placed first in the USA Power Lifter National Championships in 2001, 03, 05, March & Sept. 06, and 07 through 2010.
Joe currently competes once or twice a year in national and international competitions. To help him accomplish this he has received sponsorship funding from many people and businesses for which he is grateful. Three larger regular sponsors he wishes to thank are Heather Huntington, Ed Wojciechowski, and Tighten Support Systems.
