World Champion Lifter Ready To Defend Title

World Champion power lifter and 1981 Quinlan High School graduate Gary Pamplin is ready to defend his title in the Czech Republic.

Pamplin is an assistant principal at W.H. Ford High School and has been a member of eight world teams. He will defend his title Oct. 2.

He has held the world championship two consecutive years in 2007-08 and took the bronze medal in 2006. He has competed in power lifting since 1981 when he began competition for the U.S. Navy’s program.

Pamplin said he always finished in the top four. "I spent a lot of years learning to lift," and noted that he played football before that as a Quinlan Panther.

"When football was over, I was looking for something to compete in," Pamplin said. "I always liked to compete." The military gave him that opportunity until that program disbanded in the 1980s after drug testing was implemented. Some military careers were affected when it was found that some participants were taking steroids."

That is why you finished in the top four and not at the top — because you did not take steroids? "That is correct," Pamplin answered.

The drug-free competitor entered independent events after the military program stopped. He took the California state championship in the 1990s.

While stationed at Corpus Christi with the Navy, it was discovered during a physical examination that he had a broken clavicle.

"I took five years off away from competition to let my body heal and work on rehabilitation. I started competing again in 2000. My main goal was to see if I could still compete." Pamplin contended for the USA Power Lifters. "Another drug-free organization," Pamplin added. "I joined and competed in the masters."

He took 17 national titles between the military, bench press and three-lift meets.

In the meantime, the military program was reinstated for all branches of service.

Pamplin competes in his 242-pound class for the Navy.

International competition requires winning the national title. He said the International Power Lifters World Championship competition carried a completely new set of rules since all countries competed against each other.

To get a chance at the world title, a competitor must win the United States National championship. Pamplin did that in May at contests held in St. Louis, Mo. He set two world records at that meet including 723 kilos in squat, that was five kilos better than the previous record held by a German of 718 kilos. He also beat his own previous world record of 562 kilos in the bench press with a new record of 578 kilos.

Pamplin is recognized as the number one seed going into the world contests in October. He acknowledges his greatest threat comes from three athletes from France, Sweden and Germany. He said their strength over him was their dead lifts.

"I’m the only masters in the 50-59 age group." How long can he continue to compete? "I don’t know. My body is fine. My lifts are getting stronger."

"When we go to world, we don’t go to set records, we go to win — whatever it takes to win," Pamplin said. He said the national contest was where the records were broken. "We go to world to win."

He said the United States team is attempting its ninth team title. The team has owned the title for the past eight championships.

Pamplin will leave Monday, Sept. 28, for his competition on Friday of the same week.

The athlete prepares for the world meet first with a 16-week cycle of weights. He does no weight training for the remainder of the time and concentrates on balances and core training — "exercises in weird positions." Pamplin explained that he balances on two plates or basketballs to work various muscles throughout his body. He said at his age, he does not expect to gain much additional muscle but concentrates on stability, muscle memory.

Pamplin has maintained the same body weight for the past 10 years. What about a special diet for training? "I eat whatever I want to eat."

He said that he actually has to force himself to gain weight as part of his preparation to compete. He takes his body weight up eight to 10 pounds, then pulls the water off as the time gets closer to the meet.

The world champion and his wife Jean have a son Gary who is serving in the U.S. Air Force and a daughter, Ayla, who was recently accepted into the University of North Texas. "That’s what brings us back to the area," he said.

He looks forward to sharing his athletic ability with local students. He plans to begin a power lifting program for the school district. In fact, some prospects have already stopped by to talk with him about joining.

Pamplin graduated from high school with Kenny Stone, who is now president of the Quinlan Independent School District. He lived with Stone and his family while attending high school.

He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees and retired with more than 20 years service in the Navy.