Amy Walden October 2014

October 2014 - Amy Walden

Please introduce yourself. Who are you? How old are you? Where were you born? Etc. Give the readers some background about yourself.

My name is Amy Walden. I am originally from Louisville, GA. I am 21 years old and a fourth year at the University of Georgia. I am majoring in Nutrition Science.

Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both and what weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in?

I mostly compete equipped, but I have competed unequipped as well. I have competed in both the 181lb and 165lb weight class in the open and junior divisions.

What was your last competition and how did you do?

My last meet was Collegiate Nationals in Orlando, FL in April 2014. I placed 8^th overall. My best numbers were 325lb squat, 165lb benchpress and 325lb deadlift.

When was your first competition?

The American Open in December 2012.

How did you improve from your first competition to your most recent?

Form was a key issue as well as getting proper equipment and not being so nervous. I had to learn to be confident in myself and what I was capable of.

What is your next competition?

Collegiate Nationals 2015 in Atlanta, GA.

What do you plan on doing differently for that meet if anything?

For my last meet I had to cut almost 20lbs but for this one, I’ve done a good job at maintaining weight (158) so that won’t be an issue. It’s hard to cut weight and gain strength at the same time.

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

I am located in Athens, GA and I train at the Ramsey Student Center on campus.

What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?

I love watching football, hanging out with friends, and doing anything fun.

Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time?

Dan Green. He just doesn’t seem human.

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

Before I got into powerlifting, I was really into agriculture and FFA. I competed in several forestry competitions (state, local, and national) and learned to identify every tree native to Georgia.

What is your occupation? Does it interfere with competing or visa versa?

I am a Strength and Conditioning manager at the Ramsey Student Center. It doesn’t really interfere with training or competing. School does a good job of that.

How did you get into powerlifting and how many years have you been competing?

I’ve always been interested in lifting and wanted to learn more about it. When I got to college, I looked for some type of lifting club to join and that’s when I discovered powerlifting and fell in love with it.

Are you involved in powerlifting in any way besides as a competitor?

I am the Vice President of the UGA Powerlifting Club. We recruit others to our team and assist them with training and competing.

What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers? And how do your best training numbers compare to your best competition numbers?

Squat- 325, Bench- 165, and Deadlift- 325. Those are my best competition numbers.

What advice would you give a new lifter just starting out?

Learn proper form from the start. It makes the lift easier when you start adding weight and it prevents injury. Also, don’t worry so much about not being strong enough or ready to compete. Everybody has to start somewhere.

Why did you decide to compete?

I’ve always loved competition. Plus it was something I had never done before and I love new experiences and trying new things. It also really motivates you in training because it gives you a goal and something to train for.

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

I always try to get the most out of every workout. I don’t want to leave knowing I didn’t put everything I had into it. Right now, I squat and bench three times a week and deadlift twice a week but not heavy each time. I’ve started including a lot of accessory work and doing more RDLs and rack pulls to increase my deadlift, which has always been my weakest lift.

What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three and why?

Squat for sure. That’s the lift that I’ve always been the best at.

Do you have any rivals in powerlifting?

Myself. I always want to get better and stronger and beat my own numbers.