Tyler Cummings

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Tennessee Open on January 15, 2022.
Top OVERALL Wilks 2.0...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Tyler Cummings. 30yo. 9 years competing.

Best lifts in competition?
Best lifts in comp- 805/530/760

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Before powerlifting I played high school football and rec basketball. 

Why Powerlifting?
After high school I continued to excel in the weight room. I've worked out since I was 10 and lifting was a part of my life. When I was training in college I decided to try my first competition and instantly fell in love with the sport.  

Tell me something about your gym/team.
My gym and team do not coincide due to location. But both are comprised of an amazing group of diverse, motivated, and positive athletes that I'm blessed to call my family and friends. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
I typically train alone. This gives me less reliance on a partner, a more productive routine, and better focus on my training. 
 
Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
I've competed in 3 countries outside of the US.- Finland, Australia, and Colombia. 
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
Inspiration- Breaking records.
 
What's your favorite lift?
Favorite lift- Bench press. 
 
Least favorite lift?
Least favorite- Deadlifts. 
 
Biggest challenge in your training?
Biggest challenge in training is balancing it with my work schedule. Working as a contractor often requires long, and sometimes exhausting days. 
 
Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I prefer noisy with high energy. I focus better with a lot of background noise and being surrounded by serious lifters. 
 
Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I have a great coach, Josh Rodda, who I plan to continue training under his advisement. 
 
Social media.  Positives and negatives
Social media is great in moderation for the right purpose. Too much of it distracts us from focusing on ourselves. 
 
Diet you follow? Supplements?
My diet has always been high protein, moderate-high Complex carbs, and moderate amount of good fats. I avoid sugars, fried foods, and processed foods as much as possible. Exceptions are made around meet (aka weight gaining) time but still regulated. Fish oil, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, MSM/glucosamine are taken daily. 
 
Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?
Biggest powerlifting accomplishment was winning the junior division at the 2014 GPA worlds in Sydney Australia. 
 
What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
Non powerlifting goal is to travel as much of the world as possible. 
 
Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
I would like to acknowledge my team (Walls of Jericho) for their hard work and support and support for one another.