Powerlifter and strongwoman Tamara Walcott has been certainly one of the largest names in strength sports in recent times. Her impact has been felt on and off the platform.
Walcott is the all-time raw deadlift and total world record holder and has been energetic in strongwoman competitions. Now that she has reached world-class heights in strength sports, she desires to do the identical strength sports.
Kent Fleming has been a significant player within the powerlifting world as an athlete and coach. He was the third man to squat 1,000 kilos raw and is the brand new owner of the American Powerlifting Coalition (APC). He has the identical personal mission as Walcott: help the game grow and supply a brand new stage for athletes to showcase their strength.
Fleming and Walcott have joined forces to host the inaugural Walcott Wreckers eventwhich blends powerlifting and strongman/woman events. This latest contest’s debut is scheduled for Aug. 31, 2024, in Omaha, NE. It will feature raw powerlifting for amateurs and professionals and include strongman elements.
Walcott and Fleming joined to share why fans and athletes should make this event a part of their calendars and their visions to grow the game.
Why start promoting and organizing events?
Fleming: I’ve been in the game since 2009. Powerlifting is so vital to me. I really like what it does and the way it inspires people.
I’ve been coaching for over 10 years. I remember squatting 1,000 kilos; I felt like, “That was it?” I intend to make lifters feel more special. Now that I’m on this position, I intend to make these individuals feel like they’ve completed something.
We’re taking the core values that the previous owners of the APC needed to a brand new level. That is how the partnership with Tamara got here into play.
Walcott: When I first got into this sport, I used to be training and dealing my butt off for 12 to 18 weeks for these events. I used to be breaking ground and records; after I broke the all-time raw world record, I believed to myself, “If cornhole and marble games may be on ESPN, so can powerlifting.”
However, I shouldn’t be the just one getting the sponsorships. I used to be standing there at that moment (after breaking the record) for all of the little girls and boys who looked like me and thought they were plus-sized and never strong.
As a mom of two in my 30s, I believe anybody can do that. I desired to be ready to create a stage so others could come to do that as well.
Walcott Wreckers will feature elements of powerlifting and strongman. What will that appear like?
Walcott: I’m the driving factor for throwing the strongman element into it. Even after a full competition with only 30 days to arrange and my coach passing away, I used to be bitten by the bug.
We are putting the Sasquatch bar into the combination; it’s going to be the last pull of the day within the competition. There will probably be the standard competition, but we’re adding elements that the powerlifting community just isn’t used to.
Pros will squat, bench press, and deadlift, but things will probably be in between. I’ll try to interrupt two records: the deadlift and the Sasquatch bar. We will invite other strongman athletes to aim as well.
Amateurs could have a good higher incentive. Care to elucidate?
Walcott: Yes, we’re paying the winning amateurs. Champions will receive prize money. We try to drag latest sponsors into this that don’t normally sponsor powerlifting events; big corporate America groups. We wish to bring people…into the game.
Have you leaned on other promoters or organizers for guidance.
Fleming: I come from the Big Iron lineage. I’ve been around so many world record holders; Scott Nutter and Donnie Thompson. I’ve wrapped for guys at these meets and learned a lot. I’ve eaten with them, picked their brains, watched them move at their events, and I plan on taking all of that and putting it into the APC.
Has there been any consideration for future events after Walcott Wreckers?
Walcott: Walcott Wreckers will probably be annual. I need to create an area where athletes feel like WNBA or NBA players after they compete. Kent and I need this to be the WWE of powerlifting; the driving force making the game greater and grander.
Fleming: There will probably be more announcements about that at a future date, especially on the youth side with highschool students.
What are the long-term goals for Walcott Wreckers?
Walcott: I remember breaking the world record and getting a check for it, which I didn’t expect. That was an incredible feeling. I need others to feel that.
At the top of the day, I need this event to be in regards to the lifters. Kent and my visions align: this must be about and for them. I need to share this stage with as many individuals as I can.
Right now, someone is in a garage pulling 700 kilos. We need to provide them a giant stage to try this on. Why not offer that platform and provides them a probability to earn a living, too? Kent and I’ll create what we each wish to see in the game.
You’ve mentioned bringing latest eyes to the game. What should fans and potential viewers learn about Walcott Wreckers?
Walcott: I first got into the game as someone’s mom within the Virgin Islands; I knew nothing about powerlifting. I spotted that I wasn’t strong and large for nothing.
This could possibly be how they get introduced to the game and alter their lives. I need people to tune into or come to this event knowing we care about them. We want them to return back here knowing they will probably be treated well from the warm-up room to the platform. We want them training hard and plan to make this certainly one of the events they do yearly.
Fleming: I bombed my first meet due to pressure. As I got into coaching, I could see the nerves coming through with the amateurs because this was so vital to them.
Now that I actually have my organization and might impact the game from this side, I need to offer a cushty stage; affirming and inspiring. That goes to be a giant a part of the APC.
Where can fans learn more about and follow Walcott Wreckers because it nears?
Walcott: @walcottwreckers on Instagram. Fans also can go to www.walcottwreckers.com. Tickets may be purchased online as well.
Fleming: Athletes and fans also can try the APC website and follow me on Instagram @big_kent_fleming.
