Joe Walden Kansas Strength and Power HoF inductee 2025

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

Personal history:
Joe has been competing since October 1976. He has competed as part of the All Army Team, the Armed Forces Team and a member of the 1987 Black's Health World Team. He has won multiple National Championships across three federations (USPF, NASA, USPA) and multiple World Championships. He has set over 80 National Records, 78 World Records and over 200 state records in Hawaii, Virginia, Florida, and Kansas. He won the best lifter at the 1993/94 European Armed Forces Championships and Best Master Single Ply Lifter at the 2024 USPA Tested Nationals. He is an International Referee and a meet director. He has served as State Chair (USPF) for Virginia and State Chair (USPA) for Kansas.

What led you to your sport:
I started powerlifting after wrestling for a year in college as a way to gain size and strength. I started as a bench presser and then fell in love with the squat. My second meet (1977) was a full power meet and I set the North Carolina State University bench record.

Achievements in your sport:
- 83 National Records in USPA and NASA - 78 World Records in 165, 181 and 198 weight classes - over 200 State Records in Virginia, Hawaii, Florida, Kansas and California - European Armed Forces Champion 1993/94 - US Armed Forces Champion 1983 - Best Single Ply Masters Lifter 2024 USPA Tested Nationals

State, national and world records:
- I have set state records in Virginia, Florida, California, Hawaii and Kansas (all but Kansas while serving in the US Army) - Armed Forces records - World Records (78) in multiple weight classes - 83 National Records in multiple classes

Accomplishments:
I have hosted over 20 meets as a meet director Served on the USPA Executive Committee 2023-2025 USPA Hall of Fame 2018 Kansas Powerlifting Hall of Fame

Other activities:

Served as a National Referee (since 1983) for the USPF Served as a National Referee for NASA Serve as an International Referee for IPL since 2017 While serving in the US Army, worked with Recruiting Command by providing over 50 seminars and lifting demonstrations throughout the southeast US

 

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Mon Aug 18 01:17:15 UTC 2025 | Last Updated: Fri Aug 22 16:48:31 UTC 2025