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Disabled II Division in 2016

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OFFICIAL WABDL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF GUS RETHWISCH

Beginning in 2016 everyone who desires to lift in the Disabled II Division at a WABDL sponsored meet must provide signed documentation from a Physician explaining the condition that would warrant lifting in this division. This documentation must be on official office letterhead, with a contact number in the event that the WABDL desires additional verbal verification.

This is not meant to complicate things for our lifters. It is simply designed to help provide a fair and consistent atmosphere of competition.

Thank you for your consideration.


WABDL Worlds Live Stream was watched in 32 countries & all 50 US States

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From David Palmer The final stats have been run and this year the WABDL Worlds Live Stream was watched in 32 countries, all 50 us states, 33,613 streams bringing the average of viewers right at 8,000 for the week. The internet connection was solid with zero complaints from viewers. It does not get much better

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Athlete of the Week: Great Falls WABDL lifter Allen Heisler

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By: Tom Wylie – MTN News – KRTV GREAT FALLS, MT

By day you’ll find Allen Heisler on the second floor of the Columbus Center in Great Falls working his full-time job as an outreach manager for the non-profit Student Assistance Fund.

“It keeps me busy,” said Heisler. “Our mission is to provide knowledge and tools to help students and families pursue and fund their post secondary education.”

But when he leaves the office at night, Heisler heads to the gym and transforms into the Hulk. Not the actual Hulk… but he definitely possesses Hulk-like qualities. Heisler is a competitive weight lifter and recently returned from the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters competition in Las Vegas where the 42-year old took home two world titles.

Click here to read the entire story compliments of KRTV – Great Falls, MT!

Venue Change for WABDL® – 911 Memorial Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships – Aug 6, 2016

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The 2016 Schedule of Events PDF document available on the Schedule page has been updated to reflect changes to the WABDL® – 911 Memorial Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships.

James R. Greene Honors His Mothers Memory by Lifting for Reps

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virginiaCIt is with a heavy heart that the WABDL announces the passing of one of its’ own. Virginia Cornelius, James Greene’s mother passed away recently. She has competed in the Missoula, Montana meet and set state and world records. Her state records still stand. She has been James’ biggest fan ever since his first meet thirty some years ago. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last April and has been valiantly battling ever since.

James R. Greene“So, tonight was tribute night. After my mother Virginia Cornelius passed away, I felt I needed to do her former WABDL world records and still Montana state records for reps, times her age. This meant benching 90 lbs for 77 reps and deadlifting 165 lbs for 77 reps. I accomplished my goal. I love and miss you mom!”

Condolences from WABDL Nation.

New Deadline for Special Hotel Rates for 2016 WABDL ®- NORTH AMERICAN BENCH PRESS AND DEAD LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Gus called to mention the entry form for the 2016 WABDL ®- NORTH AMERICAN BENCH PRESS AND DEAD LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS scheduled for March  12, 2016 in Portland, OR may have an incorrect deadline to get the special hotel rate. The deadline is February 11, 2016. After this time regular hotel rates will apply, which is significantly

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Kari Pöntinen – WABDL Worlds 2015 – Click to view video

Push-Pull Rules


The All-Time Lists have been updated

WABDL® 2016 Schedule of Events Has Been Updated As of March 8

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The 2016 WABDL® Schedule of Events has been updated as of March 8, 2016. I believe the only change is that the WABDL® Texas State Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships (Tiny’s Meet) has been moved from May to June 11. It is wise to keep an eye on the Calendar and Schedule of Events from time to time as it is not uncommon for date/venues/etc to change. Thank you.

Papa Smurf Sets New World Record at 80 Years Young

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Ron Ringewold (aka Papa Smurf) recently competed at the WABDL World Cup in Wisconsin Dells, WI on April 9, 2016. Ron came out of retirement at 80 years young and broke the WABDL Master Men 80-84 World Deadlift Record @ 181 with this 364.8 lbs 2nd attempt. The prior record was set way back in 2007. Ron hopes to compete at WABDL Worlds in November where he hopes to go over 400 lbs.

Gladiator Powerlifting – Lift Heavy or Go Home

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Team Champions – WABDL World Cup, April 9, 2016 – Wisconsin Dells WI – Gladiator Powerlifting – Click for video!

In Memory of Tommy Kono By Gus Rethwisch

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(click pic for larger version)

tommyTommy Kono died April 24, 2016 at age 83.

Tommy Kono was my inspiration to get involved in Powerlifting and to stay involved.

I started training in 1968 because of Kono. I had never met him, but I had heard of him. I then trained with Dave Johns, MR America, 1977, at the Mid Valley YMCA in Van Nuys, California from 1971-72’. Arnold Schwarzenegger trained there in the late sixties before he went to Joe Golds Gym in Venice, California.

I met Kono in 73’ at the Nu’uanu YMCA. He was a humble but still a tremendous presence. He immediately encouraged me to be the best I could be. I told him my goal was a 900# deadlift, and he said concentrate on the 600 first. I did 555# in my first contest in the summer of 73’ and 605# in December of 73’. He kept telling me to set small goals but don’t lose sight of 900#. In November of 78’ I pulled 845# and had 900# over my knees, a good 5 inches up my thighs. The first thing he told me was “If you wore deadlift slippers instead of 2” thick Nike soles you would have made it.”

When I came up with the idea for the first Hawaii World Record Breakers in 1977, everybody said it couldn’t be done; everybody except Tommy Kono. In that first tournament we had lifters from Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, Finland, Great Britain, Australia, and the best lifters from the United States.

Tommy helped with sponsors and staff but more importantly he said “If you believe you can pull it off don’t worry about what everybody else says or thinks.” I lost all my staff after that first year. They were all negative. They said I was crazy trying to pull it off and it was too much stress. We got NBC to televise it that first year and then Kono hooked me up with Pan American Airlines for the second year and CBS Sports televised the show for a ½ hour special on CBS Sports Spectacular. Eventually in 1988, ESPN televised the World Record Breakers, and the Hawaii Record Breakers lasted 20 years; without Kono it would have lasted one year.

Tommy Kono was responsible directly or indirectly for Powerlifting, bodybuilding and Olympic Lifting to flourish in Hawaii. None of the bodybuilders or Olympic Lifters supported Powerlifting in Hawaii even though the Powerlifters supported both bodybuilding and Olympic Lifting. Kono not only supported Powerlifting, he was the first person in Hawaii to put on Powerlifting meets. Without Tommy Kono there is no Gus Rethwisch and there is no WABDL.

Tommy won MR World in 1954 in Roubaix, France and MR Universe three times in 1955 in Munich, Germany, 1957 in Teheran, Iran and 1961 in Vienna, Austria. He won 2 Gold medals in Olympic Lifting in 1952 at 148# in Helsinki, Finland and at 165# in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia. At 181# he won a Silver medal in Tokyo Japan in 1960. In 1953 he won the World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1954 he won the World Championships in Vienna, Austria. In1955 he won the Worlds in Munich, Germany, in 1957 he won the Worlds in Teheran, Iran, in 1958 he won the Worlds in Stockholm Sweden, and in 1959 he won the Worlds in Warsaw, Poland. He was World Champion in 3 different weight classes for 8 years in succession. This was during the Cold War with Russia and Russia was scouring the Country looking for a lifter to stop Konos’ dominance. It took them nine years and Kono only lost because of a shoulder injury. He set 26 World Records and 7 Olympic Records. Tommy also won 3 Pan American Games Championships in 1955, 1959 and 1963 in Mexico City, Chicago and Sao Paulo, Brazil respectively. He set 8 Pan American Games Records.

Tommy also was the Olympic weightlifting coach for Mexico from 1966-1968. He was also the Olympic Coach for West Germany from 1969-1972 and Olympic Coach for USA in 1976. He was elected to the USA Hall of Fame in 1990 and the International Weightlifting Hall of fame in 1994.

Tommy was honored by WABDL at the WABDL World Championships in Anaheim, California in 2007 as the Greatest Olympic Lifter of ALL Time. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave Tommy a similar award in 2009 at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Arnold called Tommy his greatest influence because he was the only weightlifter to excel in both bodybuilding and Olympic Weightlifting. Tommy’s crowning achievement was being selected as the Greatest Olympic Lifter of the 20th Century by a group of International peers in 1998.

In the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Jesse Owens single handedly disproved Hitlers’ theory of the ‘Aryan super race’ by winning 4 Gold medals, but still suffered racial discrimination upon returning to the United States. Nikita Krushchev, the Premier of Russia, slammed a shoe on the podium at the United Nations 1958 and said “We will bury the United States,” more or less saying that Russia was much tougher and much superior to the United States. That was the height of the Nuclear Cold War between Russia and the United States. While that war was being waged with intimidating rhetoric, Tommy quietly destroyed every Russian lifter he faced from 1952-1959, while Americans were building bomb shelters waiting for the bully ‘Russia’ to end it all.

Tommy also faced racial discrimination by being placed with his parents in a Japanese relocation camp in Tule Lake, California from age 12 to age 15. I used to go by the internment camp on the way to Reno Nevada for the WABDL Worlds in the early 2000’s. It wasn’t fit for the family dog let alone for a human.

Thank You Tommy, for the advice, for your support, for your friendship, and for the memories.
Gussig

In Loving Memory of a WABDL Great – Gary Thomas

WABDL SURVEY – 6/19/2016

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**This is an extremely important survey that will impact the future of THE WABDL – PLEASE RESPOND**

Eleven hundred forty three lifters competed at the USA Power Raw Nationals. The WABDL is the only federation that doesn’t have Raw. The WABDL has been compiling raw records since Worlds 2015., but hey are not posted and not official yet. The plan is to have a Raw Division starting February 2017. So please respond to this survey (link below). Only about 900 answers were turned in after 3500 survey request.

Please print and complete (incude your name) the following survey and mail to

Gus Rethwisch
President & Records Chairman
P.O. Box 515
Willard, UT 84340

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY


A Letter to WABDL Nation from Elma (WABDL Secretary)

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To All the Wonderful WABDL Lifters:

Thank you so very, very much for your patience with me. During Gary’s last few months of illness it was very difficult to do anything but care for him. Following his death there was so much to do personally that I was still unable to do much regarding WABDL. I am now in the process of catching up and hope to be back to normal very soon.

I know you all work so hard preparing for the meets and want (and deserve) to see your results up as quickly as possible. In the thirty plus years I have been doing this, never have I had to put WABDL
aside to deal with personal matters. But this time, I had no choice, and I apologize for not having results and records up in a timely manner. I still have two meets to process, but I will get those done as fast as I can and get the results to the webmaster. Records are almost up to date, and I’m sending them “as is” to the webmaster because you all have no idea what they are after all this time. Keep in mind that they will change somewhat after the two meets are processed. As soon as the records and meets are updated, I’ll get back to making certificates.

Again my apologies for neglecting you. Thank you for being so understanding at a time when stress has been intense in our family.

Elma Thomas, Secretary

The Heart of a Lion and the Soul of a Saint

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By Jill Porter

12642636_10208439435761055_1193671762985628923_nAll my friends on FB: A very dear friend has just completed her last WABDL powerlifting competition for whatever time it takes for her to heal from upcoming cancer treatment a THIRD time.

Please, if you ever talk with a cancer patient, DO NOT tell us that just because there have been so many advances for our diagnosis, it is not considered terminal, and/or you have (hopefully) not EVER experienced cancer treatment physically, it is fine and will be easy.

Marlene Wexler will face this challenge a third time with great faith, inner strength, and all the support we can provide. Some individuals have already said the above which not only hurts to the core, but has no positive affect to help her move through this again. If you have never had to endure what it is like being the patient on the receiving end no matter whether surgery, chemo, and/or radiation treatment, you cannot ever comprehend the struggle for those who have done so. It takes every part of your being to first face the unknown, but then to go through the incredibly fatiguing effort so you can be whole again and thrive in life.

Fatigue from cancer treatment is like nothing you can (and hopefully will not) ever imagine!!! It IS NOT like being tired from lifting too heavy, from running too far, from staying up too late, etc. It wipes your whole body out so badly that even existing takes great effort. Don’t tell her it isn’t that bad! Don’t tell her “at least you aren’t going to die”! And don’t ever tell her you feel sorry for her!

Marlene Wexler is prepared and has the faith and strength thankfully to want to fight again. TELL her you are behind her, tell her you can’t wait to see her compete on the platform again, tell her you stand beside her with whatever support she needs, AND tell her you love her for being that incredible example of how to face life’s challenges when presented before you because she needs as much from us as she always gives to everyone she meets.

GO GET EM’ Marlene and better see your face competing as soon as you finish and heal the body and mind!!!!! Always here whether you need me or not…I AM YOUR ROCK!!!

THE WABDL’S OWN – GARY SHIM

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GARY SHIM- Power Lifter – Sports People Hawaii
-Gary talks of his lovely wife who encouraged him to get into Powerlifting, how difficult it can be to stay in the game, and about the camaraderie of his teammates who push each other every day. This is what the WABDL is all about!

Entry deadline for worlds is Oct 10 or Oct 17 w/ a $30 late fee

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Entry deadline for WABDL Worlds at Bally’s in Las Vegas is Oct 10, or Oct 17 with a $30 late fee. Room reservation deadline is Oct 21.

If you haven’t sent in your entry form (or reserved your room), the dates are approaching fast. Please send in your entry forms ASAP.

New Online WABDL Survey

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NOTE: If you were kind enough to send in your survey already please consider completing the Online Survey (link below).

The plan is to have a Raw Division starting February 2017. Only about 900 answers were turned in after 3500 surveys were sent out with about 520 saying yes and 380 saying NO to Raw in 2011. 280 Surveys have been turned in so for for 2016. 273 want raw and only 7 said no. All we need to institute raw is more votes. We would like to see a minimum of 1000 surveys turned in. Anybody who has lifted in the WABDL in the last 5 years can turn in a survey. We will cross-reference your name against our lifter database. For your vote to count your name must be in our lifter database.

Note: Anyone who has already voted for Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix, New Orleans, Honolulu or Wisconsin Dells needs to revote as those particular venues have been eliminated from consideration due to lack of interest.

SURVEY DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 14, 2016. The survey will not be available after this date!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H7NMDBL

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