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Gary Deal

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Meatsgains (talk | contribs) at 22:17, 29 January 2013 (add text, add sections, add headings, and add references). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Gary Deal (born April 2, 1940) was a weightlifter for the United States.

Early life

At only 10 years old, Deal was diagnosed with Polio. This disease left him with a shrunken and weak right arm, shoulder, and right leg. The whole right side of his body was impaired and the only way he was able to move his right arm was with the assistance of his left arm. Deal's determination and will lead to a slow and painful process of developing the muscles on the right side of his body.[1]

At 16 years old, he saw another guy his age with a big arm. He found out that the kid trained with weights to get his arm bigger. Standing at 6 feet tall weighing only 150 pounds, moving around was a difficult task for him. He began training with a barbell and eventually worked his way up to benching 85 lbs, snatching 70 lbs, and jerking 100 lbs. However, his right side was doing most of the work. After extensive training with one of his friends, Deal slowly began to develop his right side.[1]

When Deal was 17 years old, he competed at a weightlifting meet in Omaha. At this event, he totaled 470 lbs on three lifts in the 181 lb category. Deal continued to work hard and strive towards getting stronger. He later won the heavyweight title in the Midwestern district and in 1958 won the National Teenage title in his class. During this time he weighed in at 201 lbs and lifted 220 on bench, 235 in snatch, and 330 on jerk. Just two years later, he took second place in the Junior Nationals with a total of 800 lbs in the 198 lb weight class. At a later meet, in Omaha, Deal clean and jerked 345 lbs. Soon after, Deal married his wife and took a small break from lifting and competing.[1]

Weightlifting achievements

  • Pan Am Games Champion (1971)
  • Senior World Team Member (4th Place in 1969)
  • Senior National Champion (1971)
  • Silver Medalist at Senior National Championships (1969 and 1970)
  • Former American record holder
  • World Masters Games Champion (2005)
  • National Masters Champion (2005)
  • American Masters Champion (2005)
  • American Masters record holder in snatch, clean and jerk, and total
  • Awarded Grand Master Designation (2006)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Gary Deal". Spoon Barbell Club. Retrieved 29 January 2013.

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