Powerlifter of the Decade

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A no brainer! It was Garry Frank who (in this decade) tore down the barriers and made others realize just what was possible, but previously thought impossible. And he did it in relatively light gear. Inzer single Hardcore and Max DL and double denim and later double RageX shirt. He ripped the locks right off the gates to 2500-2600-2700 and 2800 Lb. totals in a wild romp thru the early and middle part of this decade. I doubt a bigger landmark impact will ever be made in powerlifting again! In my mind only Ed Coan's dominance in the 90's rivals it.

All worthy, awesome lifters. This decade has been good to the greatest of lifters.

The 'mander would like to write in a vote for Kyle Robertson.

bridges

konstantin konstantinov

Anyone else EVER DL 1000+ and when people were saying it couldn't be done??? No. This one goes to Bolton.

I think it has to be Garry Frank. He hasn't done much the last few years, but based on the first 4 years of this decade alone I'd give it to him. The first man to total 2500, 2600, 2700 and 2800 pounds. I'd have Andy Bolton, Brian Siders and Fedosienko after him.

Ed Coan may have been the greatest lifter ever, but he was really not very active in the 2000s. He really did his best stuff in the 90s. How is the powerlifter of the decade?

I put chuck and agree Ed is the greatest but did his major damage in the 80s and 90s

anyone who chooses Ed Coan for this decade is simply mindlessly picking him just because he is Ed Coan. Listen this is this decade not the 90's or the 80's. Coan has not competed that much this decade because of injuries. I would think the best chose would be Jaroslaw Olech(with Siders, Fedosienko, Bolton & Kutcher being good choices as well)

This one has to go to Olech.
He started the decade with 2nd places in 2000 and 2001 to Alexei Sivokon, who is one of the best lifters of all time. He had the 2nd highest Wilks of the whole meet both of these years. In 2001, he broke the world record squat while finishing 2nd
2002 through 2009 were all world championships. That's 8 in a row. 5 of them at 148 and 3 at 165. He broke the WR squat 7 times, deadlift once and total 3 times at world championships. These don't include what he did at European championships.
Squatted 749 at 148 and 804 at 165.
Pulled 701 at 148.
Totaled 1835 at 148 and 1978 at 165.

The fact that he was in the top 3 in the world among IPF lifters for the last 10 years at world championships makes him deserving of this. Other lifters have done amazing things during this decade. But, none of them have performed at such a level for 10 straight years.

Coan did his best stuff in the 80's and 90's. Frankl has only been hitting large numbers for the last 4 years.

Look at the numbers and the longevity and the vote has to be for Olech

All very great points.

The longevity of Olech is mindblowing.

Olech pulled 701 @ 148??? That might be the strongest feat of strength Ive ever heard, that is just rediculous.

How do you leave IPF world champ and Hall of Famer Brad Gillingham off the list???????

Certainly a very tough decision.

Brad won worlds twice. He wasn't the best SHW in USAPL in the decade. That one goes to Siders. He might deserve to be on the list. But, this list should be a short one.

Kind of tough to put this on his big deadlift.

Consistency has to be one criteria for being considered as powerlifter of the decade. Hence, Brad Gillingham has to be considered as a serious contender. He has two IPF Open World titles, a few second places @ IPF Worlds, two IPF Master World titles, several Master WRs and over 5 Open National Championships this decade.

More, importantly, he is consistent. He is not a flash in the pan. His total does not go up 200 pounds, but then drop @ a big drug tested contest. Instead, he totals 2250 to 2300 at every single meet!

Brad Gillingham certainly has to be considered as one of the top 10 lifters of the decade. And perhaps, the lifter of the decade.

Masters division results were not considered for the purposes of creating these lists.

You have to go Bolton for the Dl or Donnie for his sick total and all around consistant performances.....

Bridges as both a master lifter and previously as an open lifter.Set records which stood for 20 years.No one on the planet has as perfect form or execution of lifts.On the platform he looks and acts like a the world champion.He was great with of without gear[both kinds]

Garry Frank is this decades best powerlifter. Until Garry started lifting 2400 was the best total of all time. His best lifts are 1102sq, 925bn and a 931dl. No one in the history of powerlifting ever had those kind of numbers. I know it has already been said, but how can you argue with the first 2500, 2600, 2700 and 2800lbs total? And his three best lifts together would total 2958!

Nick Lenhart drug tested single ply 502 lbs Deadlift @ 131 lbs body weight and only 20 years old

Sorry people, Vogelpohl wins.

1. Brad Gillingham / IPF drug free convincing lifts
2. Frank
3. Bolton

I agree Coan was 80's 90's

seconding opinion above. Coans awsomeness carries over an extra decade. 160 fat guys and two fit ones agree.

Bolton is a one trick pony...to my mind Benni's lift was the better one cos it was done in a head to head.(all that mattered was the DL that day!).

Coan did relatively little in the "noughties".

Sivokon was invicible, as Bridges and Coan were and as Belyaev and Fedesienko are.Fedesienko and Belyaev are miles ahead of the other guys!

How is Bolton a one trick pony when he's pulled over 900 raw, pulled 1,003 suited and raw benched 600?

Bolton's real benchpress beats most of the single lift shirt specialists for physical strength.

Bolton's only "flaw" is that he squats in feds that have encouraged him to cut his squats high (to stay competitive with other chronically high squatters like Frank and Thompson.)

David Edmondson, Single Ply Total 1466 @ 146 body weight and 48 years old!

2630@198 nuff said

Not to put down Mr. Edmonson, but 1466 @ 146 in single ply really doesn't compare to Joe Morrows 1415 @ 144 raw, without knee wraps or his earlier this years total of 1427 @ 141 raw with wraps. Hennis Washington has also totaled 1449 @ 132 in single ply, and Mike kuhns 1460 @ 132 single ply.

I say Shawn Frankl no doubt.
In this decade he has become the best pound-for-pound powerlifter in the world right now bar none.

So how does he not get best powerlifter of the decade for which he has achieved this status?

Are you people even serious....GARY FRANK. And as a side note....did Coan even compete this past decade...A legend no doubt but one thats time has passed.

Went with Vogelpohl. The guy started the decade setting all-time records, and finished the decade setting them. Unreal longevity, brings excitement to any meet he competes in, and is very well respected by fellow lifters.

Frankl hands down. The guy lifts huge weights, consistently gets in a meet, wins the big meets overall lifter, and does tons of meets a year.

SO many of the lifters our surrounded in controversy on their lifts or they bomb. I think WR's are worthless. Most WR's today are done at a local gym with coaches at judges.

Coan is the greatest of all time but this decade was not his best.

GIllingham needs to be on the list. He doesn't get enough exposure which is why he was left off. Sucks cause the guy does everything right and is strong in and out of gear and pulls huge weights. The guy travels the globe and does quite well not matter where he goes.

Tony Conyers, just totaled 1550 raw at 52, Bob Gaynor had done 1495 at 63 raw, Mike Bridges went 1675 raw, 48 isn't that old, i'm 44 and although I'm nowhere near elite I certainly don't feel old! Again, this isn't a put down for David and it's a great total, but there are great many lifters in their 40's,50, and even 60's still putting great numbers. (:

Look for a 1600+ Tatal @ 148 and 27 years old in 2010 by Spencer Westwood

Yes, this guy is amazing! Too many guys on here think that the most weight lifted is all that matters and I guess they don't realize that the lighter weight lifters are lifting a much higher percentage of their bodyweight.

Ed Coan is the greatest ever but Bolton breaking the 1000 barrier in the DL stands out above all else, Frank also could be 1st too for sure.

Chuck V without a question

Ed Coan but him not very active i voted for Chuck the Truck!

chuck all the way...dudes been doing it the whole decade not just a few years...Shawn has been the best the past 3 years but didnt chuck do his first 1000 back in like 2001? hes been hitting sick totals every year..

Shawn Frankl and Gary Frank are really hard to choose from.

I think I will lean towards Gary Frank for pioneering the way from 2500 to 2600 to 2700 to 2800 when nobody could touch him. We just sat back in awe and watched him break through barriers. The other deciding factor for me would be if you added up all of Gary's individual lifts they total something around 2960 which no lifter has ever achieved.

Great poll...

Putt Houston.... now with Ridiculous BCWW

Putt if you want to be technical donnie t with the combo of all his best lifts are 2977...1235...910....832(long time ago)....but yes garry is a better lifter in the last 10 years

I can't believe that Olech didn't get more votes. This is one of the best decades a lifter has ever had.