Local powerlift champion retires on top
By Gazette staff
STEVENS POINT – Sig Sandstrom started powerlifting two years ago, at the age of 78, while working out at a local fitness center. With encouragement from fellow athletes Sig started competition, achieving the World Deadlift Champion title, pulling up 259 pounds.
In March, a gentleman from Boise, ID, broke that record, pulling up 286 pounds at the age of 79.
“So I was working out,” Sig said. “In April, in Wisconsin Dells with the same federation, I (wasn’t) able to break that record. I had to pull 287 pounds. Well, it didn’t work. I was pulling 285-90 pounds…, but when I got to Chula Vista, I couldn’t do it. I lost that championship.”
When Sig turned 80 on July 30, he was placed in a new bracket for ages 80-84.
“The record for that was 259 pounds,” Sig explained.
On August, Sandstrom competed in the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters (WABDL) in Minneapolis.
“I pulled 260 pounds,” he added. “That’s one pound more that the record. So, now I am currently the world record holder for the deadlift.”
Sig also holds the record for push/pull competition – a combination of the bench press and deadlift – earning 375 total points.
“The old record was 369 in my age bracket,” Sig explained.
In addition to the world records, Sig has earned multiple state records, breaking a total of nine.
But, after achieving all of that, Sig said that he is ready to hang it all up.
“I’ve decided that at my age I’ve accomplished as much as I can accomplish,” he explained. “I can continue if I wanted to and lift until I am 87, 88, 89… But the training regiment is pretty exhausting sometimes. You really have to keep on the schedule of a good diet; you’ve got to keep on a schedule of meeting your goals every week and then doing better the next week. It becomes a little exhausting mentally and physically. So, I’ve decided at this point that I am going to quit being competitive.
“I’ll be staying in the gym and just working out, and just staying strong and healthy.”
Sandstrom competing in Minneapolis in August. Submitted photo.
