Henry Craig

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Piedmont Power Showcase on January 29, 2022.  Top OVERALL Wilks 2.0...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Henry Craig, 33 years old and I have been powerlifting competitively for 6 years, training for roughly 18 years

Best lifts in competition?
903 squat, 551 bench, 777 deadlift

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
I started lifting weights when I was 15. I played football in school

Why Powerlifting?
Powerlifting gave me an outlet for all the negative energy I had in my life. I was able to channel all the bad stuff into the weight room. Once I started competing I was hooked with the sport. It's me vs me to be a better stronger version of myself each day. It takes dedication and a goal oriented mindset to achieve a huge total or big lift. The community in powerlifting is like no other

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I train at legendary strength in Lynchburg Virginia for the time being. It's a solid gym oriented around strength specific sports like powerlifting and strongman so it makes training for powerlifting a great place to train

Training alone or training partner/coach, team?
For the most part I train alone or my wife is with me pushing me. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
I train and compete completely beltless

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
I would have to say my biggest inspiration in the sport would be Dan Bell and Andy Huang

What's your favorite lift?
Favorite lift is definitely the squat

Least favorite lift?
Deadlift

Biggest challenge in your training?
The biggest challenge in my training is learning to continue to push myself even on days when I have no motivation or feel burnt out. I personally think powerlifting is more of a mental challenge

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
Focused and dialed in

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I have a coach I am currently coached by Cam Scott from smart strength official

Social media.  Positives and negatives.   
Social media definitely both. The positives is you can share your story and journey and inspire others and help others along the way. At the same time social media can create a false sense of what's real. No one wants to show the failures and missed lifts or bad days of training even though we all have those 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
I just eat enough protein and calories a day to fuel my body and maintain where I feel good. Supplement wise I use protein powder, vitamin D, and bcaa's all from my sponsor 50 cal labz

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?
My biggest accomplishment to date is hitting a beltless 903 squat in competition. I have wanted that number for so long now. My lifetime goal is to squat 1000+ Beltless in a meet

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
One non powerlifting goal of mine is to continue to be a successful man with my job as well as be the best husband I can be to my wife who supports the life and goals I have

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
First and foremost I have to acknowledge my lord and savior Jesus Christ for blessing me with the ability to do what I do. Also my wife Mackenzie who gives me the most support and believes in me and wants me to succeed in my goals with powerlifting she's the real MVP. Also shoutout to my sponsor 50 cal labz who support me along the way and then my coach and smart strength for setting me up for success