Ariel Bulmash June Spotlight

June 2014 - Ariel Bulmash

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

Hi, my name is Ariel Bulmash. I am 18 years old and live in Alpharetta, Ga. I attend both South Forsyth High School and Georgia State University through a dual enrollment program. I want to become a doctor and go into business with my dad.

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 have been lifting for six years raw in every weigh class below 132lbs, as well as a little over a year equipped in the 125lb weight class. I have competed in both the teen II, teen III, and open divisions.

What was your last competition and how did you do?

My last competition was Women’s Nationals in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I went 5/9… it definitely wasn’t the performance I was hoping for, but I improved in each lift nonetheless. I won the teen III division, set a few national records and placed fourth in the open division.

When was your first competition?My first competition was in the spring of 6^th grade. I had been lifting for about two months and I was absolutely terrified to compete!

What is your next competition?

Im not sure what my next competition will be.

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

I live in Alpharetta, Ga and train at Body Pros.

What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?

My hobbies include: fishing, cooking, eating, and any outlet that allows me to express myself creatively (i.e. drawing, painting, crocheting, writing, etc.).

Who is your role model and why?

My dad, I don’t know anyone who has gone through so much physically and still gets out of bed in the morning excited to go to the gym and train.

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

I use to do ballet for about six years and I absolutely hated powerlifting, haha.

Is there anything about powerlifting you would like to change or wish was different?

I wish all the different federations would merge together and create one body of lifting.

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

I work at a Monkey Joes and yes, sometimes being on my feet for long hours is tiring, but I try my best to work around it.

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

My brother and dad got me into powerlifting about 7 years ago. They have both lifted competitively for a while and I wanted to join in on the fun! I’ve been competing for 7 years as well, but I didn’t really start trying to go heavy until I was about 13 or 14 years old.

Are you involved in powerlifting in any way besides as a competitor?No, currently I am not, but I hope to expand my involvement in the sport soon.

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

(Conversions might be a little off)

Raw in the gym:

265lbs squat, 200lbs bench, 365lbs deadlift

Raw in competition: 265lbs squat, 174lbs bench, 343lbs deadlift

Equipped in gym:

370lbs squat, 270lbs bench, 405lbs deadlift

Equipped in competition:

336lbs squat, 254lbs bench, 380.5lbs deadift

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

Start raw! Its better to build up your core strength first and get an understanding of each lift before jumping into gear.

What are your short term goals now as a lifter?

My main goal is to make the Junior World Team next year.

What are some long term goals you would like to achieve?

My long term goal is to win multiple World Championships in both the raw and equipped divisions.

Who is your favorite powerlifter of all time?

My brother :), he got me into the sport and helped me find myself through lifting.

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

Sometimes…less is more!

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

It definitely depends if I am going equipped or raw. Since I’ve been in gear I feel like I have made the best connection with the bench shirt, but when it comes down to just me and the weight, deadlift is my favorite.

Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against?

Michelle Van Dusen…hands down. She is not only an amazing lifter, but extremely humble as well, that’s the best kind of lifter to share the platform with.

Do you have any rivals in powerlifting?

I would have to say I probably stand in the way of me winning more than anyone else. Most of the time I have a tendency to work myself up too much about meets and therefore sabotage my own chances of winning.

If we're sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it's been for you, what would be the reason?

Overcoming my fear of competitions… if all I took away from a meet was finally going in with the intentions of just having fun doing what I love to do and treating it as just another amazing workout I would have conquered my biggest obstacle and goal.

Editor's note: Ariel won the 2013 IPF Sub-Junior World Championships in the -57kg class and was named USAPL Georgia Lifter of the Year for 2013.

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