Gary Valentine Connecticut Strength and Power HoF inductee 2024

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

A brief personal history:

Born 1957, Stamford, CT. Involved in sports since age 8, baseball through Little League, Babe Ruth Leagues All Star teams, and 4 years UCONN Connecticut Small College All Conference Selectee 4 years. Always loved lifting weights training for sport.

What led you to your sport:

As a teenager, while playing some football and wrestling, I did some heavy gym lifts of 545 lb squat, 330 bench, 555 Deadlift weighing 198 lbs. Tried Bodybuilding one Summer 1977 after the book and movie Pumping Iron came out, 6th Place Mr. Connecticut. Good experience in learning that type of training, but not the long-term sport for me. 1979 met a friend that did the Olympic lifts and loved it immediately! Did 255 Clean and jerk first workout and stayed with it. He mentioned legendary Coach Joe Mills in Rhode Island, whom I met within the year, and was taught Weightlifting by him till he passed at age 81 in 1990. I lifted competitively for 34 years and am still teaching and coaching!

Achievements in your sport:

From 1980 -2013... 2x World Masters Weightlifting Champion, 2x World Bronze Medalist. 5x Pan AMerican Masters Weightlifting Champion 3x National Masters Weightlifting Champion, once Silver, once Bronze. 6x American Masters Weightlifting Champion 18x CT. State Champion 50 Regional Competitions, many time NE and Atlantic States Champion

State, national and world records. ( using bullet form)

2002 World Masters Clean and Jerk Record, 153 k @ 105 bdwt., age 45 2013 World Masters Clean and jerk Record 146k @ 105+bdwt age 56. 10+ Pan AM and National Masters records in Snatch, CL and Total. 20+ CT Masters Records M40, 45, 50, and 55 including 123/162.5=285 age 42 @ 105k. all listed at Teamconnecticut website... https://connecticutweightlifting.com/records-pre-2018/mens-masters-40-44-lifter-records/

Other accomplishments:

1981-1983 Masters Degree Exercise Science UCONN 1986-1995 Exercise Physiologist Cardiac Rehab Programs, Stamford Hospital. 1995 - 2009 Director of Cardiac Rehab Programs, Griffin Hospital, Derby, CT. 2002-2009 Adjunct Professor, Exercise Science, SHU, SCSU. 2013-Present Lead Instructor, USAW Coaching Certification Courses, all levels.

Activities within your the sport:

2016 New England Weightlifting Hall of Fame Inductee. 2005- 2020 Meet Director 71 USAW Sanctioned Competitions, average 80 lifters each. 2012 - 2020, President CT Weightlifting WSO. 1996- Present, Head Coach Team Connecticut Weightlifting Club 2011 - Present, USAW National Coach and Referee 1996 - Present, taught well over 1000 athletes and College student athletes, and entered over 200 lifters in USAW sanctioned competitions.

 

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: no Created: Mon Feb 12 23:04:42 UTC 2024 | Last Updated: Sun Feb 18 19:07:28 UTC 2024