Dicy Saylor

March 2015 - Dicy Saylor

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 Dicy Saylor; I’m 26 years old and I was born in Savannah, GA. I went to the University of Georgia in Athens for my bachelors in astrophysics. I attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff for my masters in applied physics. I now live in Atlanta and I am going to Georgia State University for my PhD in astronomy.

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 compete raw in the 63kg weight class, open division. Before the weight classes changed I competed in the 60kg class, except for 2014 States when I’d already moved up to 63kg anticipating the change. I am really glad to be competing at this new weight!

What was your last competition and how did you do?

This past weekend I competed at the 2015 USAPL Pro Raw Challenge at the Arnold Sports Festival. The Arnold was my first IPF meet, and it was some tough competition! I was really happy to just make it to that big of a stage, so even though I didn’t get all the PRs I wanted, I’m still so happy with my results. I squatted 281, benched 159 (16 pound meet PR), and pulled 303 for a 743 total at 137 body weight.

When was your first competition?

My first competition was April 6, 2013. I competed in 100% Raw Southwest Regionals in Cottonwood, AZ.

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

At my first meet I squatted 209, benched 110, and pulled 270 for a 589 total at 128 body weight. So my most recent meet total is 154 pounds greater than that!

What is your next competition?Most likely USAPL Raw Nationals in October 2015.

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

I just want to make sure I’m healthy and strong, so that I can put together the 800 pound total I’ve been chasing for the past 2 competitions!

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

I live in the Brookhaven area and I train with Steve Goggins in Marietta. Go Goggins Force!!

What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?

Whenever I have free time, I like to explore Atlanta. My favorite thing to do is find yummy new restaurants!

Who is your role model and why?

As cheesy as this sounds, all the women on my team are huge role models for me! I’ve learned a lot of valuable life lessons from them. The most important being that my life isn’t hectic and busy… my life is full of amazing hobbies and opportunities.

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

In May 2013, my family along with 3 friends ran across the state of Georgia… for fun! We were running to raise money for House of Heroes which provides services for disabled veterans.

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

I wish there were more comradery and less rivalry.

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

I am a semi-professional astronomer. It doesn’t interfere with competing because I try to balance work and powerlifting, but I don’t have much free time outside those two.

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

I used to run marathons and I weight trained in order to stay healthy for running. In late 2012, I learned what a powerlifting meet was, so I signed up for one just to try it. For a few months I tried to balance the two sports, but once I moved back to Georgia and joined the USAPL I stopped running in order to fully focus on my powerlifting journey. My first meet was 23 months ago and my last marathon was 21 months ago.

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

I volunteer at every local meet that I can! One day I’d like to take the judges test so I can fill more roles at local meets as needed. Right now, I usually expedite which is always fun because you get to meet nearly every lifter. One time I loaded for a flight of deadlifts, and I quickly discovered who has the hardest job at a competition.

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

My best meet numbers are 314 squat, 159 bench, 325 pull, and 782 total. My best gym lifts are 303x2 squat, 159x2 bench, and 325x2 pull.

What advice would you give a new lifter just starting out?First, you should train the bench frequently. My bench game totally changed when I started training it 3x a week instead of once. Second, open light in the squat. Third, open light in the squat!

What are your short term goals now as a lifter?

800 pound total, then a 400 Wilks!

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

3x body weight deadlift and do some equipped meets!

Who is your favorite powerlifter of all time?

My coach, Steve Goggins. He was squatting a grand when single ply was basically just a super sturdy singlet. I can’t even imagine what that means! And to still be as healthy and in love with this sport as he is, I can only hope that I can be like that down the road.

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

Any time I ask Steve what our training cycle looks he tells me, “Well we’re gonna lift some weights and get strong. Then we’re gonna lift some more weights and get stronger, and then just keep doing that over and over.” It’s really nice to have him calling the shots, because I don’t have to worry about the method to the madness. I just do what he tells me to do. He has a really special gift for coaching.

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

Overall, I would say the squat because it’s so technical it can be downright scary! The bench is fun too because it can feel like it takes forever to make gains, but it’s really nice to see how far I’ve come. The deadlift is great because it’s so simple, but it’s so slow to grow for me. My love for powerlifting is truly tested by that lift!

Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against?

My very first USAPL meet was Bench Press Nationals in 2013. I did it on a whim and was the only 63kg competing along with Jennifer Thompson. I had no idea who she was or what was going on, and I was so blown away by her bench numbers and her overall poise. She hugged me after we got our medals, and has always been so nice to me every time I’ve seen her since then.

Do you have any rivals in powerlifting?

My own mind.

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

The greatest thing I hope to accomplish this year is passing my PhD qualifying exams at the end of this month. No PhD student in their right mind would recommend training for and competing in an IPF meet two weeks before qualifying exams, but I did it and I’m still confident I will pass those tests. I believe with enough trust in myself and support from my loved ones that I can do anything!

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