THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 5, 1995 TAG: 9506050036
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Just after earning a trophy at his first Olympic lifting competition, Joe Sanders got appendicitis. The 19-year-old Elizabeth City native had to forgo his next sporting event for surgery.
Later, a family and rigorous job at an automotive plant kept him away from lifting. He didn't go back to pumping iron for 30 years. But the break may have been just what he needed.
At 50, Sanders is setting all kinds of powerlifting records.
He's being duly recorded as one of America's strongest men.
As Joanie Smart, weight room director at RiverWind Health and Racquet Club, puts it: ``He's always impressing people when he throws his weight around here.''
``I guess it was a time in my life to get back into it,'' Sanders said of his decision to compete after the three-decade absence. ``My kids were grown and I had a good job at the Ford plant at this time. I started going to the health club.
``Someone at RiverWind brought in some magazines and I got to looking at some records. I decided that if I'm going to work out anyway, I'll just get a reward out of it.''
Symbols of some of those rewards - 39 state, regional and national records since October 1994 - rest on Sanders' fireplace mantel and in an adjacent glass-encased cabinet.
They are trophies and plaques from regional meets for both the Natural Athlete Strength Association and American Drug-Free Powerlifting Association. Sanders never strays outside of his home state to compete.
A favorite memento is from an April 22 NASA meet in Burlington. There, Sanders broke the American bench-press record in his age group and weight class - by lifting 319 1/2 pounds.
Powerlifters are judged in three events: bench press, deadlift and squat. Athletes must hold a pose for a few seconds with a maximum amount of weight on either end of a metal bar.
Unlike bodybuilders, powerlifters are more interested in strength than in muscle definition. As a result, looks can be deceiving.
The white-bearded Sanders stands all of 5-feet, 6 1/2-inches and normally weighs around 185 pounds. Like a lot of competitors, it often takes him five minutes and someone's help to get into the skin-tight competition outfit.
But the stout figure can bench-press close to twice his weight, squat 451 pounds and deadlift 440. Deadlifting involves lifting weights to a standing position with arms extended downward.
A half-century old, Sanders can do all of this at a time when a lot of middle-aged men begin preparing for retirement or coronary surgery.
``That's been the fun part in the last year - being able to out-lift guys who are a lot younger than me,'' he said. ``They give you the incentive and the drive to do more.''
Sanders said he also gets a lot of support from his wife, Theda, who acts as unofficial manager and coach for her favorite powerlifter. She'll even spot for him at the health club when training partner Tom Rayman, an Elizabeth City minister, is unavailable.
``He put it on hold for his family years ago,'' Theda said. ``I told him this is his time.''
The couple's three daughters and their families are avid supporters - as are folks familiar with him from the gym.
``Oh, I think he's wonderful. He's very dedicated and gives 100 percent. He's a family man and does it all,'' Smart said. ``A lot of people are always impressed by how much he lifts.''
RiverWind has other powerlifters who hold records, but none come close to Sander's slate.
``He does it for himself. I really truly believe he's only doing it for himself. There's no ego involved,'' said Smart.
``At my age, you realize there's a limit to everybody,'' Sanders said.
``God's blessed me with a good body. He's given me the strength to do something with it. And it's fun.'' ILLUSTRATION: One of America's strongest men
[Color Photo]
DREW C. WILSON
Staff
If Joe Sanders says that at 50 years of age his 185 pounds is all
muscle - take his word for it. At a NASA meet in Burlington, Sanders
broke the American bench-press record in his age group and weight
class by lifting 319 1/2 pounds.
JOE SANDERS
Hometown: Elizabeth City, N.C.
Age: 50.
Occupation: Final inspector at Ford Motor Co. plant in Norfolk.
Personal: Married 30 years; three children and five grandchildren.
Accomplishments: Title-holding powerlifter in the 50-54 age group,
181-pound weight class.
Records: Squat, 451-1/2 pounds; Bench press, 319-1/2 pounds*;
Deadlift, 440 pounds; Total - 1,206 pounds.
Sanders holds the American record for bench press
by CNB