Round 4 – Yesterday versus Today
Yesterday’s 242# & SHW Classes versus Today’s 105k to 125K+ Classes
by Al Myers
Results:
| Lift | Yesterday | Today | Winner |
| Deadlift – One Arm | 455# – Joe Nanney (1961) | 562# – Frank Ciavattone (2000) | Today |
| Deadlift – Heels Together | 670# – Lou Greenlaw (1982) | 650# – Al Myers (2004) | Yesterday |
| Deadlift – Middle Fingers | 350# – Ken McClain (1984) | 400# – Kevin Fulton (1999) | Today |
| Deadlift – One Leg | 305# – Bill Clark (1963) | 309# – Al Myers (2005) | Today |
| Hack Lift | 650# – Wilbur Miller (1963) | 620# – Ed Schock (2002) | Yesterday |
| Jefferson Lift | 650# – Wilbur Miller (1963) | 617# – Bob Moore (1992) | Yesterday |
| Hand and Thigh Lift | 1150# – Steve Schmidt (1986) | 1910# – Joe Garcia (1997) | Today |
| Neck Lift | 470# – Steve Schmidt (1986) | 805# – Joe Ciavattone (2005) | Today |
| Harness Lift | 3000# – Steve Schmidt (1986) | 3500# – Steve Schmidt (1988) | Today |
| Hip Lift | 2135# – Steve Schmidt (1986) | 2515# – Frank Ciavattone (2007) | Today |
| Back Lift | 2610# – Steve Schmidt (1986) | 3050# – Steve Schmidt (2009) | Today |
| Clean and Press | 330# – Wayne Jackson (1971) | 276# – John Dundon (1997) | Yesterday |
| Clean and Seated Press | 280# – Wayne Jackson (1983) | 275# – Brian Meek (1988) | Yesterday |
| French Press | 135# – Wayne Jackson (1981) | 140# – Joe Ciavattone (2009) | Today |
| Bent Press | 220# – Bob Burtzloff (1984) | 105# – Mike McBride (1998) | Yesterday |
| Bench Press – Feet in Air | 465# – Gary McClain (1980) | 441# – Brian Meek (1989) | Yesterday |
| Bench Press – Hands Together | 265# – Callie Dealy (1982) | 310# – Dave Beversdorf (2009) | Today |
| Front Squat | 470# – Terry Stephens (1979) | 507# – Brian Meek (1989) | Today |
| Snatch – One Arm | 170# – Bob Burtzloff (1982) | 171# – Bob Burtzloff (1987) | Today |
| Continental to Chest | 363# – Bob Burtzloff (1987) | 358# – Frank Ciavattone (1992) | Yesterday |
| Jerk – From Rack | 407# – Clay Oliver (1986) | 397# – Clay Oliver (1987) | Yesterday |
| Clean & Jerk – One Arm | 253# – Bob Burtzloff (1983) | 175# – Bob Burtzloff (2004) | Yesterday |
| Swing – Dumbbell, One Arm | 145# – Bob Burtzloff (1985) | 143# – Chad Ullom (2007) | Yesterday |
| Zercher Lift | 505# – Bill Davis (1979) | 529# – Bob Moore (1992) | Today |
| Steinborn Lift | 460# – Al Robbins (1967) | 430# – Chad Ullom (2007) | Yesterday |
| Cheat Curl | 253# – Ray Bradley (1979) | 260# – Antoniano DelSignore (2003) | Today |
| Pinch Grip | 210# – Jim Easley (1981) | 200# – Matt Graham (2002) | Yesterday |
| Crucifix | 110# – Steve Schmidt (1985) | 140# – Eric Todd (2005) | Today |
| Pullover – Straight Arm | 126# – Steve Schmidt (1985) | 132# – Al Myers (2009) | Today |
| Pullover and Push | 474# – Bob Burtzloff (1986) | 474# – Bob Burtzloff (1987) | TIE |
| Clean & Press – Behind Neck | 220# – Bob Burtzloff (1984) | 251# – Ernie Beath (2009) | Today |
| Clean & Press – Heels Together | 300# – Wayne Jackson (1983) | 300# – Brian Meek (1989) | TIE |
| Deadlift – Dumbbells | 520# – Wilbur Miller (1984) | 480# – Al Myers (2009) | Yesterday |
| Clean & Press – Dumbbells | 240# – Ken McClain (1986) | 240# – Ken McClain (1987) | TIE |
| Pullover and Press | 165# – Ed Zercher Sr. (1963) | 352# – Al Myers (2007) | Today |
| Bench Press – Roman Chair | 210# – Bob Burtzloff (1985) | 250# – Dave Beversdorf (2009) | Today |
Final score in Round 4 – Today 19 wins, Yesterday 14 wins, 3 ties.
So overall – Today’s Lifters win 3 Rounds to Yesterday’s Lifters winning 1 Round. Does this review comparison really answer the question, “Are today’s lifters stronger than yesterday’s lifters?”. I still can’t say that for sure because Today’s lifters do have a few advantages that the lifters before us didn’t have – such as better bars and equipment to compete with, a better understanding of proper training learned from those before us, and more opportunities to compete than they did. I do think this study showed that several lifters from the past would still be great in today’s lifting world. In all rounds, Today’s lifters dominated the Heavy Lifts which definitely helped in margin of victory but if taken out wouldn’t have changed the outcome. I found this study to be very interesting – and was glad to see “the numbers” of several oldtime lifters that I have only heard about. ANYONE making these lists are/were truly great lifters. I welcome any comments from those who have memories of these past lifts/lifters. I think it is very important to keep track of the history of our sport. We have to remember that those before us paved the way for what we have today. If it wasn’t for interest in All-Round Weightlifting 50 years ago – we may not even have All-Round Weightlifting today!!