Ron Garofalo Powerlifting Hall of Fame Bio
Ron started lifting at twelve-years-old in a neighborhood friend’s basement.
Thirty-six years later, Ron still trains every weekend with that same friend, Russ Clark, who is also a national level lifter. He entered his first powerlifting meet in 1986 on a dare. A competitive body builder at the time, Ron was challenged to enter the ’86 Colorado State Powerlifting Championships by a powerlifter to “see how strong you really are, because bodybuilders aren’t as strong as they look.” Ron won first place in that meet, fell in love with the sport, and never looked back.
Ron’s Powerlifting accomplishments include:
• 2x IPF World Master’s Champion (2005 and 2006), including winning
best lifter or “Champion of Champions” award both times • 2x AAU World Champion, raw division • 4x USAPL National Masters Champion (Full meet) as well as winning
several “Push/Pull” national titles • USAPL Colorado State Champion Several times, as well as WABDL and
AAU • 4 USAPL National Records (all raw) • All USAPL Colorado State records in the 165 and 181 pound weight
classes, as well as holding several state and national records in WABDL and AAU
Over the years, Ron has brought over 50 lifters to USAPL, males and females, from 11 years old (back when there was a youth division) to 69 years old. His coaching highlights include:
1st
• place team, USAPL Colorado State Championships since 2003
2nd
• or 3rd place team, USAPL Jr./Teen National Championships since ‘04 • 7 AAU World Champions (raw) and 2nd place team 2007 • 4 WABDL National Champions and 2nd place team 2007 • Lifters under Ron’s Coaching hold over 120 USAPL state records, 33
WABDL records and dozens of records in AAU
Ron also said:
“I would like to thank all of the USAPL members who voted for me to receive this honor and for your fellowship and inspiration over the years. Special thanks to my training partners Russ Clark and Todd Ruppert and lifters of Virtus Gym. Thanks also to the great Andrea Sortwell (many of us cut our teeth in this sport during the ‘90s under her outstanding leadership), to Robb Grisham and to Dan and Jennifer Gaudreau for keeping the sport alive and strong in Colorado, and greatest gratitude to my lovely
wife and three wonderful daughters for putting up with my iron fever all these years.”