REMEMBER THIS? That time a guy from Searchmont lifted over 500 lbs

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

Powerlifting might not be a sport we typically associate with Sault Ste. Marie. But at the age of 22 Karl Hult walked into a gym and started lifting weights. Hult was a Searchmont resident and worked as an engineer for Beatrice Foods in Sault Ste. Marie.

Powerlifting has three movements which demonstrate the strength of the athlete. These three movements are the squat, the bench, and the deadlift. Hult entered his first local competition in 1972 and was one of the original members of the Soo’s powerlifting club. Hult was extremely dedicated to the sport and by the end of 1979 was ranked 8th in the world.

In 1986 Hult was part of 10 member Canadian team which competed in Olso, Norway. Hult earned his spot on the team by winning the 100-kilogram division at the Canadian Masters. At the Canadian Masters he set 5 new records which included 551 lb. and 586 Ib. in squats, 363Ib and 374 Ib. in bench and a total lift of 1,467 Ib.

A 1988 Sault Star article stated that Hult loves a challenge, but Hult also acknowledged that “he is there against a lot of young guys”. Though after 16 years of competing Hult was still able to post an impressive lift.

In 1996 at the age of 50 Hult was still active in weightlifting and competitions. According to Hult the most he ever benched was 560 pounds unofficially and 501 pounds officially. Hult spent approximately 30 years competing across Canada and the world because of the love of his sport and the challenge to lift more. A far cry from the 22-year-old young man who walked into a gym and picked up some weights.   

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provide SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more "Remember This?" columns here.