Post by Barry Williams on Aug 17, 2006 15:58:11 GMT -5
We had the opportunity to meet Kara a few months ago in Vegas. I've said it before and feel strongly in saying that she should be the face of womens powerlifting. Not because she's so damn cute but because what she brings to the table!
Enjoy,
Kara, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for the board.
1) What got you involved with powerlifting in the first place?
I began competing as an Olympic Lifter but I always wanted to try
Powerlifting. We squatted and pulled almost daily in training anyway, but no benching...ever. I would beg my coach John Coffee to let me, but I was on strict bench press probation and wasn't allowed to bench for 5 years! Finally I talked Coffee into letting me try powerlifting. Although it took me a while to regain my bench press strength, the leg and back muscle and explosive power I'd built in Olympic lifting provided a rock solid base for powerlifting.
2) What's the one thing you would like to change if you had control over the sport?
Homogeneous rules and judging.
3) Who's the most impressive lifter walking around today? What about all time?
Becca Swanson and Jill Mills on both counts. There is no lifter, man or woman, who has impressed me more than Becca Swanson in terms of consistency and number of successful attempts at the highest level. Becca goes meet to meet hitting PR's and records, with no end in sight. She is also extremely intelligent (graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering), very approachable, and lights up a room like no one else when she lifts!
Jill Mills has displayed dominance and longevity in every form of
Powerlifting...raw to equipped, old school single ply USPF to new
school APF/WPO. No smoke and mirrors, Jill does a close stance squat,
flat back narrow grip bench, and conventional deadlift. Plus she has
the most incredible physique to back up her strength.
4) What kept you focused during your injury?
Bench pressing. I definitely made up for the 5 years Coffee wouldn't let me do it at all. Also sled dragging. I'd load it up, put on my Ipod and go 'till I'd collapse. I must also mention the support of the online lifting community. I couldn't believe the amount of encouragement I received from complete strangers. Lifters may bitch and bash on the internet, but when it comes to an injury, that brings out a completely different side. I'm very grateful to everyone who helped me.
5) Who do consider your competition (regardless of weight class) in the sport?
I have a pretty long list of people I consider competition because I
choose to lift in so many different venues...full power, bench only,
push/pull, different federations, different equipment, different
weight classes, different formulas, different countries, etc. There
are so many awesome women in the sport, but unfortunately we're all spread out. That's what I enjoyed about BenchAmerica 3. Women from all federations and weight classes were invited and we competed on the same platform, under the same rules.
6) You allways seem ready to sign an autograph, take a picture, or answer any questions. What makes you so much more aproachable than some of the other big name lifters?
I'm just a lifter...and I love talking to other lifters. It's the
rest of humanity that I try to minimize interaction with
7) What direction do you think the sport is headed now?
AC/DC's Highway to Hell just started playing in my head.
8) What's next on your horizon?
Now that my knee is nearing 100% I'm doing the stuff I missed like Olympic lifting, and trying things I thought I'd never be able to try like Strongman. I've always preferred and responded well to alternative training for Powerlifting anyway.
9) Who REALLY inspires you? (I hope this one is hard to answer being how most people look up to YOU!)
Thank you. I'm most inspired by lifters who have overcome major
injuries. Also masters lifters. My #1 inspiration is my Father.
Growing up I was a gymnast and your career ends so young. Then I'd go to masters track and field meets with my Dad and see these unbelievable male and female athletes of all ages and I was just blown away. I see the same thing in powerlifting and I like that. Amy Weisberger, Carol Ann Myers, Shannon Hartnett, Deb Widdis, Harriet Hall, Steve Goggins, Ed Coan, Dan Austin, Gene Bell, Tim Bruner, Donnie Thompson, Chuck Vogelphol, Angelo Berardenilli, Garry Frank, Tony Conyers, Beau Moore, Joe Ladiner, I could go on and on. Many of these masters lifters have also made outstanding comebacks after what could have been career ending injuries. These lifters just keep getting better with age!
10) What's something you wish people would take the time to ask you? (Like where do you get all that pink lifting gear)
Good question. I wish more people would me how I define strength.
As for the pink lifting gear...APT Pro Wrist Straps of course!
Kara, please take a minute and thank whoever you'd like or mention your sponsors.
Thank you to my parents and my sister for being so supporting of my unconventional hobbies. John Coffee for introducing me to competitive strength sports and coaching me all these years and keeping Coffee's Gym thriving. Jay Rhyne, Mike Lanier, Jon Grove, and everyone at NGBB. Inzer Advance Designs, Vital Choice Seafood, House of Pain Ironwear, The Anabolic Fitness Store, At Large Nutrition, and my newest and very cool sponsor APT Pro Wrist Straps!
Thanks to Barry Williams for this interview and Joey Smith for
including it on your site. Also thanks to the whole NC crew for
always supporting all of us at NGBB.
Enjoy,
Kara, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for the board.
1) What got you involved with powerlifting in the first place?
I began competing as an Olympic Lifter but I always wanted to try
Powerlifting. We squatted and pulled almost daily in training anyway, but no benching...ever. I would beg my coach John Coffee to let me, but I was on strict bench press probation and wasn't allowed to bench for 5 years! Finally I talked Coffee into letting me try powerlifting. Although it took me a while to regain my bench press strength, the leg and back muscle and explosive power I'd built in Olympic lifting provided a rock solid base for powerlifting.
2) What's the one thing you would like to change if you had control over the sport?
Homogeneous rules and judging.
3) Who's the most impressive lifter walking around today? What about all time?
Becca Swanson and Jill Mills on both counts. There is no lifter, man or woman, who has impressed me more than Becca Swanson in terms of consistency and number of successful attempts at the highest level. Becca goes meet to meet hitting PR's and records, with no end in sight. She is also extremely intelligent (graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering), very approachable, and lights up a room like no one else when she lifts!
Jill Mills has displayed dominance and longevity in every form of
Powerlifting...raw to equipped, old school single ply USPF to new
school APF/WPO. No smoke and mirrors, Jill does a close stance squat,
flat back narrow grip bench, and conventional deadlift. Plus she has
the most incredible physique to back up her strength.
4) What kept you focused during your injury?
Bench pressing. I definitely made up for the 5 years Coffee wouldn't let me do it at all. Also sled dragging. I'd load it up, put on my Ipod and go 'till I'd collapse. I must also mention the support of the online lifting community. I couldn't believe the amount of encouragement I received from complete strangers. Lifters may bitch and bash on the internet, but when it comes to an injury, that brings out a completely different side. I'm very grateful to everyone who helped me.
5) Who do consider your competition (regardless of weight class) in the sport?
I have a pretty long list of people I consider competition because I
choose to lift in so many different venues...full power, bench only,
push/pull, different federations, different equipment, different
weight classes, different formulas, different countries, etc. There
are so many awesome women in the sport, but unfortunately we're all spread out. That's what I enjoyed about BenchAmerica 3. Women from all federations and weight classes were invited and we competed on the same platform, under the same rules.
6) You allways seem ready to sign an autograph, take a picture, or answer any questions. What makes you so much more aproachable than some of the other big name lifters?
I'm just a lifter...and I love talking to other lifters. It's the
rest of humanity that I try to minimize interaction with
7) What direction do you think the sport is headed now?
AC/DC's Highway to Hell just started playing in my head.
8) What's next on your horizon?
Now that my knee is nearing 100% I'm doing the stuff I missed like Olympic lifting, and trying things I thought I'd never be able to try like Strongman. I've always preferred and responded well to alternative training for Powerlifting anyway.
9) Who REALLY inspires you? (I hope this one is hard to answer being how most people look up to YOU!)
Thank you. I'm most inspired by lifters who have overcome major
injuries. Also masters lifters. My #1 inspiration is my Father.
Growing up I was a gymnast and your career ends so young. Then I'd go to masters track and field meets with my Dad and see these unbelievable male and female athletes of all ages and I was just blown away. I see the same thing in powerlifting and I like that. Amy Weisberger, Carol Ann Myers, Shannon Hartnett, Deb Widdis, Harriet Hall, Steve Goggins, Ed Coan, Dan Austin, Gene Bell, Tim Bruner, Donnie Thompson, Chuck Vogelphol, Angelo Berardenilli, Garry Frank, Tony Conyers, Beau Moore, Joe Ladiner, I could go on and on. Many of these masters lifters have also made outstanding comebacks after what could have been career ending injuries. These lifters just keep getting better with age!
10) What's something you wish people would take the time to ask you? (Like where do you get all that pink lifting gear)
Good question. I wish more people would me how I define strength.
As for the pink lifting gear...APT Pro Wrist Straps of course!
Kara, please take a minute and thank whoever you'd like or mention your sponsors.
Thank you to my parents and my sister for being so supporting of my unconventional hobbies. John Coffee for introducing me to competitive strength sports and coaching me all these years and keeping Coffee's Gym thriving. Jay Rhyne, Mike Lanier, Jon Grove, and everyone at NGBB. Inzer Advance Designs, Vital Choice Seafood, House of Pain Ironwear, The Anabolic Fitness Store, At Large Nutrition, and my newest and very cool sponsor APT Pro Wrist Straps!
Thanks to Barry Williams for this interview and Joey Smith for
including it on your site. Also thanks to the whole NC crew for
always supporting all of us at NGBB.
