Joel Garcia

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Iron Valley Open on May 8, 2021.
Men’s Open Raw Best Lifter...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Joel Garcia. age 31 powerlifting for 5 years.

Best lifts in competition?
squat 580 bench 390 deadlift 630

Athletic background? What you did before powerlifting?
did juijitsu, judo before

Why Powerlifting?
going to the gym as a beginner but noticed i was able to get up close to a 400 deadlift fairly quickly with little to no guidance. from there just turned to curiosity as to how strong i could get

Tell me something about your gym/team.
i have a home gym for the past 5 years

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
train alone only because of parenthood. we used to workout together as a couple but now take turns working out and watching the young one.

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
pretty open so not much to share

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
my faith in myself

What's your favorite lift?
deadlift

Least favorite lift?
squat

Biggest challenge in your training?
getting distracted in the garage lol

Ideal training atmosphere? Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
lots of equipment and loud music

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
my own programming

Social media. Positives and negatives
positives: fun sharing training log and viewing other progress.
negatives: negative people

Diet you follow? Supplements?
IIFYM

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
passing out on my deadlift attempt in front of a live audience lol

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
retire soon from traditional 9-5 type work and have my chunk of land with animals and what not.

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)? 
Diana , the mother of my child, since she's always there