Since the beginning of time man has tried to get faster and stronger. While athletics maintains a considerable profile, especially international meets broadcast on television and the Olympics, the same could not be said for weightlifting and powerlifting.
Come every Olympic Games I personally wait patiently for weightlifting events and outside the Olympics regularly scan the satellite TV channels for powerlifting and strongman events.
A wide range of athletes use weight training and powerlifting as part of their cross-training and the sports of competitive weightlifting and powerlifting are truly great spectator sports given the exposure.
A wide cross-section of the population admires feats of human strength but are starved for such TV coverage. From the very young to senior citizens globally seeing a human being compete in events where their strength is tested to the max makes for great entertainment.
The tension and atmosphere of competition especially the suspense and immediate pre-lift individual rituals and antics combined with the very real nature of this individual sport make it a great spectator sport.
Putting a human body to such extremes creates physical dangers and when combined with the jubilation of exceeding personal bests and breaking records as well as the frustration of failed lifts ensures spectators are always in suspense.
The unfortunate aspect of such an ancient practice and sport is that unlike many professional individual and team sports it does not attract lucrative sponsorship deals.
Competitors in order to achieve at the highest level in the sport a powerlifting need to commit serious time to their training and competing. The expense of full time and part time commitment to powerlifting is considerable to ensure the competitor has the best chance of achieving their potential.
Steve Varga 300kg +8kg chain squat
One such power lifter is 35-year-old Steve Varga who began lifting weights at age 20. He was under 80kg back then and now competes in the 100kg weight class. Steve was born at Dunedin to Pat and Imre, and has 3 siblings.
As a youngster he was involved in rugby, rugby league, and boxing. His father had done weight lifting when he was young, back in Hungary.
Let’s go back to 2004 and look at some of Steve's competition results working our way up until the present.
February 21, 2004 club lift record 100kg class results placed first with a lift total of 610 KG's made up of best lift totals of 240kg in the squat, 140kg bench press, and 230kg in the dead lift.
April 24, 2004 at Tiger championships 95.10kg. 100kg weight class. First place. Combined total 645kg. Squat 230kg, Bench press 145kg, Dead lift 260kg
June 26, 2004 South Island championships bodyweight 96.6kg. Weight class 100kg first-place with a combined total of 685 kg, squat 260kg, bench press 150 kg, dead lift 275kg.
August 20, 2004 New Zealand Powerlifting championships bodyweight 96kg weight class 100kg, First place. Combined total 715 kg. Squat 265kg, Bench press 160kg, Dead lift 290 kg.
December 2004 Oceania championships Fiji 3rd place in his class.
February 19, 2005 club lift bodyweight 95.9kg. Weight class 100 kg, combined total 710kg, first-place.
June 25, 2005 South Island championships bodyweight 97.5 kg weight class 100kg, first-place with a combined total of 695kg made up of squat 260kg, bench press 160kg, dead lift 275kg.
July 16, 2005 Otago bench press championships bodyweight 98.2 kg weight class 100 kg-based lift 155 kg
August 14, 2005 New Zealand Power lifting championships bodyweight 102kg, weight class 110kg, combined total 745kg first-place. Squat 280kg, bench press 175kg, dead lift 290kg.
April 29, 2006 Otago championships bodyweight 89.2 kg weight class 90 kg combined total 715 kg second-place. Squat 265kg, bench press 175kg, dead lift 275kg.
June 24, 2006 South Island championships bodyweight 89.5 kg, weight class 90 kg combined total 715kg first-place. Squat 260kg, bench press 170kg, dead lift 285kg.
August 13, 2006 New Zealand Powerlifting championships bodyweight 89.7kg, weight class 90 kg, combined total 717.5kg third-place. Squat 277.5kg, bench press 170kg, dead lift 270kg.
Steve Varga, competition squat 2007
March 10 2007 club lift bodyweight 98.7kg, weight class 100kg, combined total 745kg, first-place. Squat 285kg, bench press 180kg, dead lift 280kg.
April 28, 2007 bodyweight 99.6kg, weight class 100kg, combined total 775kg first-place. Squat 290kg, bench press 182.5kg, dead lift 302.5kg
June 16, 2007 South Island powerlifting championships. Bodyweight 99.9kg. Weight class 100kg, combined total 795kg, first-place. Squat 295kg, bench press 190kg, dead lift 310kg.
Steve Varga 310kg Dead Lift
August 3, 2007 New Zealand powerlifting championships bodyweight 99.8kg, weight class 100kg. Combined total 490kg, squat 300kg, bench press 190 kg, dead lift miss lifts. Recorded a new South Island record for squat.
December 6-9, 2007 Commonwealth powerlifting championships. Bodyweight 99.6kg, weight class 100kg. Gold medal in the dead lift.
By now readers will realize how serious Steve is in relation to his powerlifting. The unfortunate reality is that Steve qualified for the World Powerlifting Championships 2007 in Austria but because of the considerable cost related did not compete.
Steve has had to sacrifice much financially including quitting his job as a wool grader in order to be able to train properly for international competition.
Steve Varga 260kg + 24kg chain deadlift with rubber band tension
He has progressively improved and in training has totalled 827.5kg with 317.5kg squat and 205kg bench press.
Given financial support to freely pursue his goals those totals in training could be the norm and superseded in competition.
Steve is self trained including taking care of his own diet requirements and leads a disciplined lifestyle.
His diet consists of mainly a blended mix of eggs and bananas in milk taken up to six times a day combined with the occasional substitute meal of mince or chicken.
Steve trains between his home gym setup in his garage that is decked out with over $25,000 worth of equipment and SKY gym in Dunedin, New Zealand.
He has now made strength and power training his business and sole means of income as a personal trainer, willing and enthusiastic to help others and in turn further his achievements.
Strength and power training may have come from humble beginnings but today to be competitive at the highest levels requires considerable sacrifice and finances.
Steve requires close to $10,000 for 2008 to replace his aging lifting apparel, national and international travel expenses, entry fees and supplements. He would certainly appreciate any financial assistance from sponsors or donations that will assist him reach the pinnacle of his sport.
Fight Times recognizes the considerable years of hard work in the gym that goes into winning in competition and the considerable knowledge and experience Steve has that can really benefit fighters, combatants and martial artists. Steve will contribute a column to Fight Times based not only on competitive powerlifting training but also assisting individuals with their strength and power development for their specific needs for these sports.
For Dunedin residents wanting to be trained personally or for team or small group training the Todd Group central city facility will be available to Steve for such training.
By enlisting Steve’s services you will not only benefit by improving your personal abilities and capabilities but will also be assisting a New Zealand leading talent in powerlifting to achieve his goals.
This article is an introduction to Steve Varga and his upcoming column on powerlifting and power in strength training in Fight Times.
If you have any specific questions you wish Steve to address then simply e-mail them to Fight Times.
Individuals wishing to make donations or businesses willing to sponsor Steve please contact Steve at [email protected] or mobile 027-624 6268.
