Mike Wolfe is a big guy, a really big guy. The professional powerlifter has a personal bench press record of more than 800 lbs. But lifts aren’t the only big thing about Mike. He also has a big heart, as demonstrated by his focus on helping kids. This year Mike will be helping out by doing a 500 lb plusexhibition lift at the Lifting Hopes Pump and Run. Mike will also be at the event to talk about weightlifting with anyone wanting to learn more and to encouraging all the lifters and runners.
Mike has been lifting for about 17 years now and is serious about the sport. In High School Mike started lifting in order to get into shape for football. When he met Minster Police Chief Randy Houseworth, Mike’s first lifting coach, Mike became serious about weightlifting and went from being a rookie to a State level lifter.
Throughout Mike’s weightlifting career he has accomplished a lot. The accomplishment that Mike is most proud of over the years was his 2nd place finish at the 2007 Arnold Classic World Powerlifting Organization Bench Bash. About that event Mike said, “I bench pressed 860 pounds at that meet in front of thousands of people. It was such a rush to have that many people watching me. At first I was a little taken back from how many people were there but then I was like this is what I dreamed of and I gave it my all.”
Mike not only uses his weightlifting as a way to keep in shape or something to compete in, but also as a way to give back to others. Mike started his own charity meet in Celina, Ohio five years ago. The “Mike Wolfe’s Children’s Christmas Classic” is a bench press event in which all proceeds are donated to a local charity that buys children presents for Christmas if their families cannot afford to presents for them.
Along with his own charity Mike is excited to be helping out with the Lifting Hopes pump and run. Mike loves to help children in whatever way he can, and so he is excited about the Lifting Hopes pump and run and the opportunity to help raise money to encourage children with pediatric cancer.
Come out and meet Mike at the Lifting Hopes pump and run on October 2, 2011. Mike will have lots of advice on weightlifting at the event, but to end I will let you know some advice he gave me. “Seek out people who have been in the sport for a while. Pick the brains for as much info you can get. Be like a sponge and absorb as much of that knowledge as possible. Seek the knowledge of others either through gym memberships, internet, books, and magazines.”