When you are standing backstage at a prestigious powerlifting meet like Powerlifting United’s American Pro meet in the Henrico Sports and Events Center, smelling the sting of ammonia and hearing the low-frequency thud of loaded barbells hitting rubber flooring, you begin to understand a fundamental truth about strength sports: months of preparation ultimately come down to your ability to execute when all eyes are on you
On August 7 and 8, the author of this article went from covering one of the biggest powerlifting events of the year to becoming part of it. Day 1 required the singlet. Day 2 called for the media credentials. The event recap can be found here, but this is the story from the other side of the platform
The purpose of this was to know, with absolute certainty, that Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “Man in the Arena” warning didn’t apply. Being the man who was actually in the arena struggling and whose face was actually marred by dust, sweat, and blood instead of the cold critic pointing out where the strong man stumbles was the ultimate goal for this cause
The Invisible Variables of Prep
No meet prep exists in a vacuum, and no training cycle survives contact with reality untouched
You map out a 12-week block with surgical precision, calculating totals and peak weeks down to the pound. Then the universe steps in
Whether it was an injury in training, the loss of a training facility, personal or professional adversity, or something else that forces you to shift your focus, your job as the competitor is to either address it quickly or set it aside until the meet is over
Every athlete backstage carries an invisible list of variables they have no control over. Look at someone like Maddy Forberg, whose previous meet was her return after shifting her focus to bodybuilding while dealing with injuries. The American Pro was her second contest in her return to her original sport
Another example would be John Haack, who was in pursuit of all-time world records and had the entire sport’s fanbase watching his posts and videos as if they were must-see TV. Even the best can occasionally feel pressure from that, but their jobs are to execute. Forberg and Haack both did just that very well and had the crowd excited while doing so. Many other lifters did as well, while others had struggles throughout the weekend
Whether it’s a dislocated hip joint in a home gym, the immense mental demand of a high-profile comeback, or chasing immortality in the sport, you learn very quickly that meet prep isn’t only about flawless execution; it’s about how much adversity you can absorb without backing out
Backstage and the Arena Lights
Some lifters sat motionless with headphones over their ears, isolated in their own minds. Others pace like caged animals, and others were attacking the barbells in the warm-up room like they were already on the platform. Handlers and coaches coordinated warm-up attempts, constantly checking the clock and calculating flight rotations
When the curtain opens and your name echoes over the arena speakers, the backstage noise abruptly disappears. Under the bright platform lights, the American Pro feels massive. You walk out to the bar, and three referees sit in silent judgment while the spotters cheer you on. This is where the absolute binary nature of powerlifting hits you. Two out of three white lights from the referee indicate a good lift. Three white lights would be best, but all you can control is the weight you’re moving.
A powerlifting meet consists of the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Lifters need at least one successful lift of each in order to score a total and qualify for a placing. If you miss all three attempts on any lift, you’re out of the running for the win. Going conservative on the opener is best so you clear that initial qualifying hurdle
The second lift may be the realistic yet optimistic goal you had in mind during those weeks of prep. If that lift is good, then some lifters will push themselves to set a new personal record (PR) or go for a dream weight they always wanted since they would be playing with house money at that point. If a lifter happens to miss, they need to adjust on the fly and reset their minds for success. Dwelling on a miss can lead to more of them. Your job is to maximize each of the nine chances you have to lift, and it goes by quickly. The days leading up to the meet may feel like weeks, but once you’re in the arena, it becomes a blur and before you know it, the day is done.
The Real Lessons of the Iron
Powerlifting is a simple sport at its core, but standing on that platform teaches you something that applies far beyond the gym doors or the lights of the arena. It is not defined by the shiny trophy or the exact numbers listed on a spreadsheet. It is defined by the courage to show up, whether you’re up against a lifter much stronger than you or when everything goes wrong during a prep. On the rare occasions that a prep goes as you hope, the thrill of hitting your goal numbers make every rep, calorie, minute of treatment, and mile traveled worth it.
Whether it is a star like Forberg claiming their spot among the elite, a legend like Haack breaking world records on Day 2, or a Masters competitor pulling half of what was originally planned just so a total gets posted, the barbell demands the exact same thing from everyone. Accept the challenge, overcome gravity, and earn the approval of the referees
There are other great reasons to enter a powerlifting meet than those lessons alone. Focusing on strength can help improve quality and quantity of life if done the right way with proper attention given to recovery. Furthermore, the sport has a positive, supportive, and uplifting community that thrives when everyone in that community gets better. It may be one of the only sports where opponents cheer each other on. As lifters and fans that were at the American Pro confirmed, the competition may be on the platform, but the benefits of the sport can be taken far beyond it.
Personal Recap
Despite a hip injury suffered during preparation for the meet that was aggravated during the third squat attempt, the 876-pound total that the lifter/author scored at the American Pro was far below expectations. However, there were two lifters in his category and only one scored a total. Therefore, the 308-pound squat, 292-pound bench press, and 275-pound deadlift made up the lowest total on the men’s side of the platform, but they also led to an Open category medal and filled the previously empty West Virginia record books for PLU’s 140-kilogram Raw Open and Masters 45-49 categories since it was an official posted total.
