Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon

By Bill Clark

A pair of veterans dominated the Umpteenth (25th/30th?) Steve Schmidt Backbreaker Pentathlon, joined

by a pair of new folks in the upper level of the chain and back lifters.

RJ Jackson checked in from Corpus Christy, Texas, to win the women’s division and John Carter, now in

the 65-69 age group, took the men’s title.

Jackson, 61, was the only entry from outside Clark’s Gym and she did her lifts on some unique

“equipment” that got the job done but must have cost her many pounds in the process. Unfortunately,

she was the only one of the seven entries whose lifts were not judged – proof once again that the

USAWA must approve both video entries – and the much-needed quick approval of new officials.

The lack of remote entries was disheartening but not discouraging. The upcoming Zercher Strength

Classic (January 27-28) will be offered hybrid, which means you can lift anywhere in the world and set

records with proper registration and with approved USAWA officials – and even without officials,

you can be the champion – on your own honesty and good looks.

Plus – if you have officials, each sanctioned meet, in person or hybrid, allows you to break up to five

USAWA records.

And – Clark’s Gym never charges an entry fee.

What’s not to like about that arrangement?

One of the highlights of the day was the emergence of 48-year-old Jeff Wenzel. His first contact with the

USAWA was as a loader/spotter for the 2022 Bench Press Decathlon. In 2023, he finished third in the

meet and slowly has become interested in many other challenges. Now he’s joined by his 16-year-old

son, Spencer, a high school junior. Remember that name.

Results are as follows:

Schmidt-1Download
Book3-1Download

Bench Press Heptathlon

By Bill Clark

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024

CLARK’S GYM, COLUMBIA, MISSOURI

WEIGH-INS: 8-9 A.M.

THE LIFTS:  Regular bench press; bench press feet in air; left-arm bench press; right arm bench press; reverse grip bench press; alternate grip bench press; hands-together bench press.

Special Awards: Roman Chair bench press; rampage.

ENTRY DEADLINE – April 2, 2024. E-mail – yeoldclark@gmail.com or by phone at 573-474-4510.

ENTRY FEE:  None.

USAWA MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED: Registration available at meet site.

AWARDS:  Unframed certificates including special events

RECORD SESSION – Will follow the decathlon competition.

Hybrid: you may lift in the competition in your own gym and your lifts will be included in the final standings and eligible for certificates. Records may be set if you are designate a certified official. We assume you will be honest concerning your bodyweight and your correct lifts. Video is appreciated if you lift remotely, but not required.

Final OLD TIME STRONGMAN WORLDS Update & a Big Surprise!

By Clint Poore

We are just a few short days away from the 2023 OLD TIME STRONGMAN WORLDS and I am sending a final update to all lifters. 

The meet location is next to Hunters BBQ and the address is:

2608 NORTH HIGHWAY 127

ALBANY, KENTUCKY 42602

Weigh-Ins begin at 8 AM – 9:30 AM for lifters. Lifting will begin at 10 AM

RECORD DAY LIFT RECOMMENDATIONS – If you are going to participate in the RECORD DAY, here are a couple lifts with a lot of opportunity to set records…… FOOT PRESS & RIM LIFT

We will be setting records in these lifts, so feel free to come lift with us! Go to USAWA.COM and see if you can set some amazing NATIONAL RECORDS this Saturday!

THE BIG SURPRISE is a brand new Feat of Strength is being performed for the first time ever 

at the OTSM RECORD DAY ……. THE BUFFVILLE STONES!

These stones weigh 264 lbs and 225 lbs each for a grand total of 489 lbs! You can be one of the first people in history to lift the MIGHTY BUFFVILLE STONES! If you successfully stand up and lift the Buffville Stones you will have your picture taken, make stone lifting history and earn a free T-shirt commemorating your accomplishment!  Come lift the Glorious BUFFVILLE STONES

Also, we will have 40 chairs available for you to rest and sit in!

If you want, please bring your own personal fold chair and enjoy the show!

Finally, I am excited to meet and greet everyone. Then bear witness to your legendary lifts at the 2023 Old

Time Strongman World Championship!

We are Burdened with Glorious Purpose!

Error Correction-2019 Worlds

By Eric Todd

Unfortunately, sometimes error in sports occur. One has recently come to my attention from 2019 worlds. Even though a fail-safe computer program was used, an error was made. While it was announced at the banquet that Beth Skwarecki was the victor in the women’s division, there was an omission of RJ Jackson’s one hand barbell clean and jerk in the addition of her total. With the one arm clean and jerk added, RJ’s amended total surpassed that of Beth. When I reached out to Beth to be sure I was not missing anything, she assured me that I was not, and she graciously conceded victory to RJ with her congratulations. Apologies from the USAWA/IAWA to RJ Jackson for missing this, and congratulations for your 2019 World Championship!

Steve Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon

By Bill Clark

THE BACKBREAKER PENTATHLON

This meet is about as old as the IAWA/USAWA – but not as old as the Ed Zercher Strength Classic – which started in the Missouri State Prison before there was a Clark’s Gym or a USAWA.

The 2023 version of the Backbreaker has not changed in the 35 years it has been in existence – the same hip, harness, neck, back and hand-and-thigh combination that Steve Schmidt gave us in his farmyard and basement gym which in 1988 drew a crowd from coast-to-coast and lasted until 2 a.m.

Who can ever forget his implements of torture – the elevated platform for the harness lift that towered over a pile of iron that weighed around 2,900 pounds and only Steve had lifted on it – until John Carter challenged Steve over three decades ago?

And who can ever forget Steve’s back lift device in his basement office which used tractor wheel weights to load the monster up to over 3,000 pounds?

The Backbreaker was soon given the title of USAWA Heavy Lift Championship and was held at Clark’s Gym for several years before being passed along to other hosts where lack of proper equipment for the back and harness lifts have reduced the national meet to only three events today – the hip, neck and hand-and-thigh. The heaviest of the heavy lifts have not been a part of the nationals for some two decades.

So – if you enter the Backbreaker next week at Clark’s Gym, you’ll be a part of lifting history, but, once again, it will not be a national championship – just the heaviest of all heavy lifts. It is a true return to the days of the days of the great strongmen of the past century – and beyond.

The meet gets under way with 8 a.m. weigh-ins and the action to start at 9 a.m.

Once again – the meet is open to the world. Any registered IAWA lifter can participate, regardless of site. If any USAWA lifter’s efforts have been judged by a USAWA certified official(s), the lifter’s efforts will qualify for the USAWA record list.

In the U.S., any registered lifter, regardless of site, can set records with only a single USAWA as a judge. That lifter is also eligible to do five record lifts in addition to the Pentathlon.

If no officials are available, the meet director (that’s Ol’ Clark) will accept your honesty and you will be included in the summary of the competition as if you were in Clark’s gym on meet day.

No videos are needed, though appreciated, and I would like your e-mail results by the evening of Dec. 6. The awards will be certificates.

There is no entry fee and no deadline unless you plan to lift in the friendly confines of Clark’s Gym. If you plan to be on hand at the gym on December 2, I need to know. Even if you don’t lift, your help as a loader will be greatly appreciated.

And don’t forget – you have the weekend to do five record lifts in addition to the Pentathlon.

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