Legends Of Lifting Power Weightlifters Pack ‘Em In At Red Lion
It’s not every day that the world’s strongest men drop in for a visit.
On Saturday, two such guys did - and more than 500 spectators showed up at the Valley’s Red Lion Inn.
Houston’s Anthony Clark tried to break his own world bench press record by lifting 800 pounds. He was joined by another world-class presser, Chicago’s Craig Tokarski. Another 111 lifters from the Northwest and elsewhere entered the Snapple Great Northern Strength Extravaganza.
Clark didn’t break the record during three tries, but came very close the first time - one arm just wouldn’t lock to bring the load home. He put so much into the attempt, though, that a blood vessel burst in one of his eyes.
“The energy up there was incredible,” said organizer Giorgio Usai, owner of Giorgio’s Gym and Fitness Center in the Valley. When the world-class lifters appeared, heavy metal music blared. Row by row the cheering crowd stood up, like dominoes in reverse.
These days, Clark is only competing against himself. Two weeks ago, he set the current world record of 770 pounds. Tokarski was trying to beat his own personal best, by benching 738. He failed to complete the three lifts.
Spectators had a wild ride nonetheless. Some state records fell and 79-year-old Wes Williams of Richland set a world record in his age group in the bench press, hoisting 187 pounds.
The event’s success was surreal for Usai, who said power lifting contests usually don’t pack in a crowd. “I’m glad it’s getting recognized. It’s a lonely man’s sport,” he said. “You (often) train for weeks, and there’s no one there cheering you on.”
The big names, no doubt, drew them in. Even the contest promoter, Gus Rethwisch, can claim celebrity - he played Buzz Saw in the Schwarzenegger film, “The Running Man.”
These guys are incredibly strong. Before their turn up front, Clark and Tokarski did warm-ups with 705 pounds backstage.
Jody Cranston watched, shaking his head, eyes wide. He came from Vancouver, British Columbia, to compete in the 148-pound class, but said he’s as much a spectator as anyone.
“This will be the equivalent of a baseball fan seeing Ken Griffey Jr., or a hockey fan seeing Wayne Gretzky. These guys are superstars of the sport.”
Clark, 29, signed pictures of himself dead-lifting a car. Once, in Japan, he lifted an elephant off the ground. It’s tough to imagine the 355-pound man getting teased on the playground, but he said that’s what happened. Then he discovered lifting, and it didn’t take long to discover he had a talent for it.
“I think God called me to do this thing,” he said.
Clark went to the Hutton Settlement children’s home Friday and spoke to children there, and 20 of them came to watch him lift.
Clark Rogers, 16, said the kids could hardly talk to him during the visit. “Mostly, we were just looking at him, he’s so huge. You especially don’t see many world-record holders at Hutton Settlement.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo