Crayton Taylor Interview

September 2011 - Crayton Taylor

1. Please introduce yourself. Who are you? How old are you? Where are you from? What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)? Please give the readers an idea of what it’s like to be you.

My name is Crayton Taylor. My age is 65 years young and I was in Atlanta, Georgia. My hobbies are softball and collectable cars.

2. Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at?

I live in Lawrenceville, Ga. And train at Valley’s, Gold’s, Body by George and a Gym we open for us to train.

3. What is something that most people don’t know about you?

I have no idea what people know about me but I hope it’s something nice.

4. What is your occupation?

I have no occupation I am retired.

5. Do you find that your occupation interferes with competing or vice versa? Retirement, no.

6. How many years have you been competing? I started competing at age 42, about 23 years.

7. How did you get into powerlifting? I got started by a friend of mine Jack Rodin making a statement you body builder cannot lift. I beat him in a USPF meet that December.

8. What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers? My biggest squat is 610lbs, best bench 440lbs, deadlift 622lbs, and total 1650.

9. What titles, records and achievements did you accumulate in your powerlifting career? I have USPF, NASA and USAPL state and national records and four times number (2) in the Master Worlds.

10. Can you describe your training philosophy and/or a typical training session?

My training philosophy is not train like a crazy person but to do it the smartest way.

11. Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both?

I have done both, and I really like unequipped except for not wearing knee wraps.

12. What weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in?

I compete in the master at 120kg.

13. What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three? My favorite lift is the deadlift.

14. Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against? 15. Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time? 16. When was your last competition & how did it go? My last competition was USAPL Master National in Atlanta and I won.

17. Do you have any upcoming competitions? If so, when and where? Yes I do the master World in St. Catherine, Canada from Sept.26 to Oct.2.

18. How do you prepare for an upcoming competition? I try to do two(2) to three(3) reps with my openers.

19. Describe your nutritional intake for an upcoming competition?

Eat well and take my vitamins, try not too over train.

20. Is there anything you will do differently to prepare for your next competition that is different from your last one?

It depends on how my training affects my competition.

21. How many meets do you compete in each year?

At this age no more than three per year, mostly two(2).

22. Who is your greatest competitor/rival?

William Moore

23. What advice & tips would you give to a powerlifter that is just beginning? If you are just beginning, what advice have you received from other lifters or coaches?

First go to the web and look up training methods for beginners, then find someone in your area that has competed in meets other than State level.

24. How has powerlifting changed your life? It made me more of a people person.

25. Do you stay in touch with lifters you compete against? Some it depend on the person.

26. Why did you decide to compete? My friend change me to compete.

27. What is your #1 or most prestigious meet you ever competed at in your career? The most prestigious competition for me is the Master World.

28. Do you compete in any other strength sports such as Olympic lifting, strongman, highland games, etc? No.

29. What is your favorite memory from any powerlifting competition or event?

Having Matt Christie as a teen change me to pull over 600lbs if he did.

30. Anyone you would like thank for helping you along the way in your Powerlifting career?

Yes there are Jack Rodin, Bob Colman, Matt Christie, George Haring, and Greg Jones think you all.

31. Anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for your time and best of luck in your upcoming powerlifting endeavors!

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