Powerlifting
Bob Hale, Coach Henry, Cory Martin (left to right)
Stark Public Special Olympics (SPSO) offers powerlifting as one of its sports. Coach Henry McGee Jr. keeps the SPSO powerlifters in training at Henry’s Dynatorium, 2320–26th St. NE, Canton, OH throughout the year, averaging 2-3 days of practice each week.
SPSO team powerlifters who are mainstays in the program include Bob Hale and Cory Martin. Bob and Cory have won an impressive share of ribbons and medals over the years of their participation.
2010 Summer Games: Cory, Coach Henry, Bob
Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, OH, was the site for 2010 Ohio Special Olympics from June 25-27. Powerlifting competition was held at Hitchcock Hall on Saturday, June 26. View photos of our competitors and their medals.
Bob Hale began his powerlifting with Stark Public Special Olympics (SPSO) in 1988 when he was 16 years old. Bob has several bench, squat and deadlift records to his credit. He has competed in three Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)’s World and National Championships.
The first one was in Richmond, VA, in November 2003, where Bob set three American and world records in the dead lift, bench press and squat lift. He successfully lifted 231.5 pounds on his squat; 187.5 pounds on the bench; and ended with a dead lift of 
286.6 pounds. Bob’s grand total was 645 pounds.
In October 2006, he competed in the AAU World Powerlifting meet, again in Richmond, VA, setting his second American and world record in the dead lift, bench press and squat lift. He successfully lifted 270.1 pounds on his squat; 198.4 pounds on the bench and ended with a dead lift of 325.5 pounds. Bob’s grand total was 782.6 pounds for this meet.
Bob’s third meet for the AAU World Powerlifting was in October 2007, at the Wide World of Sports, Disney World, Orlando, FL. He successfully lifted 264.6 pounds on his squat; 214.9 pounds on the bench; and ended with a dead lift of 325.2 pounds. Bob’s grand total was 804.7 pounds for this meet.
Cory Martin has been powerlifting since 2006. He broke state and world records in competition at Virginia Beach in his first year of lifting.
