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MISSOULA — Newport powerlifter Denise Martin won three gold medals, set three world records and qualified for her first world championships at the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters at the Big Sky Championships in Missoula, Montana, March 22.
It was her first competition. She has supported her husband, Michael Martin, a multiple world champion and record holder and Miner Forever Fit columnist, but last year WABDL expanded its Law and Fire category to include military members. Both Martins are retired Navy veterans with almost 50 years of active-duty service between them.
“I immediately ran upstairs and told Denise, who was kind of reluctant at first,” he says.
She agreed to compete if Michael got her prepared.
There was no turning back after the Martins sent in their entries. He developed a training protocol to teach her to lift in a powerlifting competition.
“I see a lot of people who lift in the gym, and they think lifting on the platform at a sanctioned event is easy.” Michael says. “But the rules and judging are very strict. Not only that, but there’s a lot of strategy involved, especially in selecting your attempts.”
At a powerlifting competition each lifter gets three attempts per lift. Once you select your first attempt you either make the lift and can move up on subsequent attempts or try it again if you miss the lift. It is possible to move up if you miss the lift, but most lifters will repeat the lift instead of jeopardizing missing it again.
One of the biggest mistakes Michael has seen is starting out too high on a first attempt and missing it. He notes that once you declare your opening weight, and later attempts, you cannot go down in weight.
Also, the rules are very strict about the performance of each lift. Once they start the lift they can’t move anything but their arms. The lift starts with the lifter holding the loaded barbell at straight arms above their chest. Then they lower it until it touches the chest and remain motionless until the head judge gives the “Press” command.
The lifter presses the weight evenly upwards to full lockout whereby the head referee gives the “Rack” command to put the barbell back into the uprights.
Things looked good for Denise but the Sunday before the Missoula event she got out of position on one of her lifts and injured her back.
“On my second repetition, I didn’t use my legs like I should have,” Denise says. “The first rep was pretty easy and then I just leaned over a little too much. I heard a loud ‘pop’ and immediately dropped the weight and fell to the floor.”
She was able to see Dr. Thomas at Thomas Chiropractic in Newport a couple days after the incident. After chiropractic intervention, she successfully competed at the event.
“I was so proud of her. I can’t think of anybody in her position who would have followed through like she did. She was obviously in pain and yet she finished what she started,” Michael says.
In addition to Denise qualifying for the world championships, set for Hawaii in November, Michael also qualified in his categories at Missoula. After a head-to-head battle with one of the legends of WABDL — both lifters breaking and then rebreaking the deadlift world record — Michael settled for the silver medal.
“We’re excited about qualifying for our first world championships together. We have seven months to get healthy and stronger and I can’t wait for the rematch in my category,” Michael says.
