Don Reinhoudt
Encyclopedia
Don (Donald C.) Reinhoudt (born March 6, 1945) is a powerlifter
and strongman
from Brocton
, New York
. After obtaining a degree in finance
, Don worked as an accountant
and a youth worker during his professional career.
player, an All-Western New York
football
Player and an All-Western shot put
ter.
Don began lifting weights when he was an 18-year-old defensive end
at Parsons College
, a small Division II college in Iowa
. Don not only played college football, but was also on the varsity track
team.
Don competed in six weightlifting competitions, including the 1967 Junior Nationals.
in 1969.
Don took 3rd place in the Open Division at the inaugural 1972 AAU
World Powerlifting Championships with a 2,150 lb total. He finished in 1st place at the World Powerlifting Championships from 1973 to 1976, also winning the US
National titles during the same span. He was the only Super Heavyweight to hold World Records in all three lifts (bench
, squat
, deadlift
) simultaneously. He was the first man to break the 2,400 lb barrier, with a 2,420 lb total (later was downgraded with the actual weight of 2391 pounds or 1084.5 KG) , achieved in 1975. His career aggregate total was 2427 pounds (934.5 + 607 + 885.5. See below)
Career aggregate total: 2427 (934.5 + 607 + 885.5)
Supertotal: 3059 lb
competitions, finishing 2nd to Bruce Wilhelm
in 1978
, and winning the competition in 1979
, beating a young Bill Kazmaier
. He was forced to withdraw from the 1980 World's Strongest Man
competition after tearing his biceps and left hamstring.
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
and strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
from Brocton
Brocton, New York
Brocton is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States.The name was derived by combining the names "Brockway" and "Minton," two prominent local families...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. After obtaining a degree in finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, Don worked as an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
and a youth worker during his professional career.
Athletics
At Fredonia High School, Don was an All-League basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, an All-Western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
Player and an All-Western shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
ter.
Don began lifting weights when he was an 18-year-old defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
at Parsons College
Parsons College
Parsons College was a private liberal arts college in Fairfield, Iowa. The school, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, was founded in 1875 and closed in 1973....
, a small Division II college in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Don not only played college football, but was also on the varsity track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team.
Don competed in six weightlifting competitions, including the 1967 Junior Nationals.
Powerlifting
After experimenting with weightlifting, Don began powerliftingPowerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
in 1969.
Don took 3rd place in the Open Division at the inaugural 1972 AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
World Powerlifting Championships with a 2,150 lb total. He finished in 1st place at the World Powerlifting Championships from 1973 to 1976, also winning the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National titles during the same span. He was the only Super Heavyweight to hold World Records in all three lifts (bench
Bench press
The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
, squat
Squat (exercise)
In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body...
, deadlift
Deadlift
The deadlift is a weight training exercise where a loaded barbell is lifted off the ground from a stabilized, bent over position. It is one of the three canonical powerlifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press.-Overview:...
) simultaneously. He was the first man to break the 2,400 lb barrier, with a 2,420 lb total (later was downgraded with the actual weight of 2391 pounds or 1084.5 KG) , achieved in 1975. His career aggregate total was 2427 pounds (934.5 + 607 + 885.5. See below)
Meet Results
- 1972 AAU World Championships Bronze, +242 lb Class (Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
)
- Squat: 830 lb, Bench: 590 lb, Deadlift: 730 lb---Total: 2150 lb
- 1973 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
)
- Squat: 407.5 kg (899 lb), Bench: 262.5 kg (579 lb), Deadlift: 362.5 kg (799 lb)---Total 1032.5 kg (2277 lb)
- 1974 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
)
- Squat: 410 kg (904 lb), Bench: 252.5 kg (557 lb), Deadlift: 375 kg (827 lb)---Total: 1037.5 kg (2288 lb)
- 1975 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
)
- Squat: 400 kg (882 lb), Bench: 250 kg (551 lb), Deadlift: 380 kg (838 lb)---Total: 1030 kg (2271 lb)
- 1976 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
)
- Squat: 390 kg (860 lb), Bench: 252.5 kg (557 lb), Deadlift: 372.5 kg (821 lb)---Total: 1015 kg (2238 lb.)
Powerlifting
- Squat: 934.5 lb in competition (1000 in training)
- Bench: 607 lb in competition (606 in training)
- Deadlift: 885.5 lb in competition (900 in training)
- Powerlifting Total: 2391 pounds (downgraded from 2420 as explained above)
Career aggregate total: 2427 (934.5 + 607 + 885.5)
Weightlifting
- Snatch: 260 lb
- Clean and Jerk: 370 lb
- Olympic Lift Total: 630 lb
Supertotal: 3059 lb
World's Strongest Man
Don competed in three World's Strongest ManWorld's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
competitions, finishing 2nd to Bruce Wilhelm
Bruce Wilhelm
Bruce Wilhelm is a weightlifter and strongman from the United States. He is a two-time winner of the World's Strongest Man competition in 1977 and 1978 and the author of numerous strength-related articles and books. He was a member of the executive board of the United States Olympic Committee...
in 1978
1978 World's Strongest Man
The 1978 World's Strongest Man was the 2nd edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Bruce Wilhelm from the USA. It was his second title. Don Reinhoudt also from the USA finished second, and Lars Hedlund from Sweden third. The contest was held at the Universal Studios, California.-Final...
, and winning the competition in 1979
1979 World's Strongest Man
The 1979 World's Strongest Man was the 3rd edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Don Reinhoudt from the USA. It was his first title after finishing second the previous year. Lars Hedlund from Sweden finished second after finishing third the previous year, and Bill Kazmaier also from the...
, beating a young Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier is a former powerlifter, strongman and professional wrestler from the United States. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions...
. He was forced to withdraw from the 1980 World's Strongest Man
1980 World's Strongest Man
The 1980 World's Strongest Man was the 4th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Bill Kazmaier from the USA. It was his first title after finishing third the previous year. Lars Hedlund from Sweden finished second after finishing second the previous year, and Geoff Capes from the United...
competition after tearing his biceps and left hamstring.
Recognition
- International Powerlifting FederationInternational Powerlifting FederationThe International Powerlifting Federation is an international governing body for the sport of powerlifting as recognized by the General Association of International Sports Federations as well as the International Olympic Committee via inclusion into the World Games.The IPF was founded in 1971, and...
Hall of Fame - Class of 1980 - World Powerlifting Hall of Fame - Class of 1998
- Greater BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
Sports Hall of Fame - Class of 2005 - United States Powerlifting Hall of Fame
- Chautauqua CountyChautauqua County, New York-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
- Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame