Brent Mikesell

Tell us some background about yourself ?

I am currently employed as a teacher. I teach math and physical education. I have three children, two daughters and a 3 month-old boy. I have been married to my wife Connie for nearly 10 years. I have a master’s degree in School Administration from Eastern Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Montana.

How did you get involved with the sport ?

Like most Americans, I was introduced to lifting to better myself as a football player. I was asked by my high school coach to try a powerlifting meet in high school and got best lifter my very first meet. I always had a big deadlift when I first started, a decent squat and a horrible bench. I pulled 635 at 198 as a 17 year old with no suit. After competing in high school I really decided I wanted to pursue this sport, but then college football had other plans for me. Ha Ha.

What other sports have you tried ?

I played basketball, track and football for most of my high school career. I accepted a football scholarship at the University of Montana. Thus, began, my layoff from powerlifting.

Do you have time for any other hobbies ?

No, I really don’t. Between my job, my family, my lifting and other business ventures I’m pursuing, there is no time left over. I truly have no other hobbies that I’m interested in at this time.

What titles have you won ?

I’ve won very few titles. I’ve chosen to compete in big meets rather than little ones just so I can collect trophies. Besides, when you compete against Garry Frank twice a year, you’re not going to win many titles. I’ve won the West Coast Open twice, won the Can Am Championships in 2001, the CPC Nationals in 2002, 4th APF Nationals in 98, 3rd in APF Nationals in ’99, 2nd in APF Nationals in ’00. Finally, I won the WPC Submasters in ’99 and was 2nd in the WPC Open Superheavyweights in ’00.

What are your best lifts ?

Squat-1075, Bench-601, Deadlift-788. Deadlift with straps, 832. I am missing an index finger on my left hand and this is the only reason I have not gone over 2500 yet in my total. My grip can barely hold 365 kg. That also means, I cannot wear a deadlift suit.

Squat seems to be your favorite lift ?

It is now, but it was always the deadlift until just a few years ago. I have become so frustrated with the deadlift because of my grip problem. I know I could pull 390 kg if I had all of my fingers. Ive always disliked the bench, but because of many years of hard work, it is slowly climbing.

You have now jacked up the WR squat to 1074 pounds ( 487,5 kg ), whats next ?

No question here, 500 kg!!!! I actually planned to do it at the WPO Qualifier last Feb, but I made some last minute mistakes that cost me. I planned on trying it again in June at the APF Senior Nationals, but I tore my quad on my last rep of my last workout prior to the competition. So, I am planning on attempting it August 24 at the CPC Can AM Championships in Red Deer, AL, Canada.

You sure seem to have no limits, how do you prepare mentally ?

I try to never let the weight psych me out. I’ve never been afraid of big weight and don’t want to start. I’ve always felt that the better you get in powerlifting it becomes much more mental than when you were a beginner. I say that because, there are so many tiny technical mistakes you can make with big weights that can cause you to lose a lift. For me, I see myself doing the weight over and over again in my mind.

How do you train ?

I train four days a week most of the year. The last four weeks before a contest, I train six days a week. I try to push up the volume of work I’m doing in the last four weeks and raise my gpp. I’ve found this to be quite helpful when it comes time to deadlift after a long tough squat and a big bench. For bench, I have a speed day and a heavy day, and for squat, I train it one day per week but a blended westside type training.

Looks that you have employed some Westside stuff to your program ?

Yes, as mentioned above. I also use bands and chains and found them to be the most useful tool that I have ever used. The concept is so easy, but with amazing results.

Seems that you do very little deadlift training ?

I no longer deadlift after I tore my left bicep a year and a half ago. The reason is, my body is capable of pulling 859 but my grip is only capable of somewhere between 782-821 depending on a lot of things. Until my grip comes up, there is no need to train this lift anymore. I train my lower back, glutes, hamstrings pretty good for the squats and it transfers over to the deadlifts.

What kind of equipment do you use ?

Let’s see, in the squat I use a Frantz double canvas with the Titan boss briefs. In the bench I use a 2 year old double denim from Inzer and in the deadlift I just wear a singlet.

Anything special or odd in your training ?

Naw, I’m just a boring powerlifter. I don’t do crazy things anymore. However, all my training partners call me a “junkie” because I am relentless when it comes to competing. After my bicep surgery, the doctor told me to not go in the weight room for at least three months. I went in the next day and did safety bar squats and threw up. I refused to let it beat me. I told myself I would break the world record after that surgery because I needed something to keep me going-I was contemplating quitting. Then I did a squat exhibition with Bill Kazmeier just 7 weeks after the surgery and did a 725 triple for a crowd of about 2000 people. It was the first time I had a bar on my back in almost three months. 3 months after my surgery I did my first deadlift and I pulled 644 easily in a meet against all my friends wishes. So, you could say I am odd, but my training really isn’t!!

What advices would you give for beginner ?

I’ve said this before and I truly mean it. There are two things to learn to be a great powerlifter. One, train your backside. Don’t let your ego in the mirror make you train only the front of your body. Powerlifting is about strength, not looks. Second, work your ass off. You cannot buy success. In America, that’s what so many lifters want, and they want success in an instant. Hard work pays off. It may take years, but it will pay!!!

Big money meets have come into powerlifting too ?

We were talking about this the other day. Big money is not the truth. Big money for one or two people, but not all the competitors can make good money. Also, since the money is in U.S. funds, it is worth more to some people from other countries, but a dollar is a dollar here. Still, it would be nice to see some other countries follow and have a world tour for money. Maybe Ano and I can promote a European Grand Prix for lots of money J.

Many americans do their best lifts in USA but you have done great in world meets too ?

That’s partly true. Outside of Canada, I haven’t been anywhere that requires a lot of travel time. It is very difficult for me to get time off to travel anyways. Of course, in the summers, I can travel all I want but there are very few meets then. I desperately want to go to the WPC World’s in Helsinki but I cannot afford to go. One of my training partners is from Iceland and he tells me all the time how strong athletes from his homeland and in Finland are almost worshipped. In the U.S., we are just another freak. Much of the bodybuilder/powerlifter personna is not received well anymore. Now, strongman, that is taking off. Everyone talks about strongman, but not powerlifting.

Any funny things you come up with in your career ?

Well, yes, I tore both my hamstrings and calves at the same time in a relay race that had 5 teachers against 5 other teachers from another school. I was the first runner to go in front of 5000 screaming kids. (the event was at our local arena). I begged my friends for me not to go, I knew something might happen. I took off at the start of the gun and I stepped maybe 5 feet when I felt my left hamstring tear. I tried to slow down but it was torn so bad, that I couldn’t slow down and then I tore my right one. I fell down on the floor in pain. 5000 kids were laughing their little asses off thinking this was a big prank to try and teach them to stretch and warm up before exercising. They took me off in an ambulance. It took 6 men to lift me and I threatened every one of them that I would kick their ass if they didn’t stop hurting me. It was the most painful thing in my life that I have ever done. When I went to the hospital, they measured my legs for swelling-they measured 48 inches around!!!! They were full of blood!!! I could not sit for 6 weeks. I had to lay on my side all day long with pillows between my legs. Going to the bathroom was painful and difficult!

The only other funny thing that happened was at the WPC Worlds in Calgary Canada in 1999. A Russian Female heavyweight had forgotten her belt. Her husband was going all over the place looking for a belt for her to borrow. Finally he came to me and asked if I had one she could use. I said yes. I pulled out a 2nd belt I keep for emergencies that I hadn’t used in years. (Now that I think about it, the last time I used it I weighed 255 pounds). The husband was relieved and thanked me over and over for helping her. He took the belt back to her and she smiled, put it around her waist and she was too big for the belt-she couldn’t get the pin in the first hole!!! At the time I felt horrible for such a mistake, but now I laugh about it.

Are you coming to WPC worlds here in Finland ?

I really, really want to. But, I cannot afford it. For travel, meals, hotel and fees it would cost several thousand dollars. Ano will put on a great meet too!!! I know this for sure!!

You also have your own business ? Your website seems very nice ?

Yes, my website is a marketing tool to promote me and my video and some things that I sell to help finance my travel and expenses for meets. Over the last 6 years, I have invested nearly a years salary in my competitions. My family could no longer deal with such a commitment without some more money coming in to help. That is why I decided to make a video and market myself. I sell training aids for bands and chains, grip things, contest pictures, equipment from my sponsor “Forza” and T shirts and hats. My biggest money maker though is my video which has done very well.

What does your squat video include ?

It emphasizes the squat. It talks about the squat for about a half hour. It talks briefly about the bench and deadlift also. It comes with a complete routine for training, demonstration of training exercises. It has me narrating talking about technique and points of emphasis. It also includes 12 minutes of contest footage-which shows 6 1000 pound squats-which includes the 1075 all time world record.

Could you give us your squat resume ?

Well, the 900 pound squats are too many too list so here are the ones over 1000:

• 6/11/2000-1003
• 6/16/2000-1003
• 11/16/2000-1003
• 10/8/01-1008
• 10/08/01-1041
• 3/17/02-1052
• 3/17/02-1075
• 4/27/02-1000 exhibition with no monolift
• 6/29/02-1008
• 6/29/02-1047

You also train people via Internet ?

Yes, this is mostly for beginners, but what I have found is that lately I am getting some top caliber lifters asking for training advice. I offer different packages based on what they need. It is best to email me at brent_mikesell@hotmail.com to find out what a price would be for your needs.

Any other comments ?

Wish I could be in Helsinki! Thank you for the interview and best of luck to your countrymen in the WPC World Championships. A big thank you to my sponsor FORZA for their help!