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spartacus

Well-known member
CAPO has many of Australia's past and present greatest powerlifters.
Here I feature Laurie Butler.

Laurie Butler’s powerlifting career is simply outstanding. Laurie placed second in the 1988 IPF world championships (Perth, Australia) in the 90kg division with a 845kg total, including a 330kg squat, a 200kg bench press and a 315kg deadlift.

Laurie started weight training in 1962 at the age of 15 at the Bendigo YMCA. As an Olympic-style weight lifter for 21 years, Laurie best lifts were achieved in the 82.5kg division at 35 years of age: 142.5kg in the clean and jerk, 122.5kg clean and press, and 90kg snatch.

After giving up olympic lifting once the press was removed from the sport, and competing in the first ever Powerlifting comp in Australia in 1968 (aged 21 and weighing 75kg), Laurie’s powerlifting career took off with a bang.

In 1974, Laurie became Australia’s best lifter with a squat of 212.5kg, bench 160kg, deadlift 257.5kg and total 630kg at 82.5kg. These lifts were raw, before the days of suits and wraps.

AT the 1974 world champs in USA at York, Pennsylvania, Laurie lifted below his best placing 7th. However, the experience taught Laurie much in terms of Super suits, knee wraps, and thick buffalo hide belts, along with chemicals known as ‘juice’.

By 1983, Laurie’ best drug free lifts at 82.5kg, raw besides a Marathon suit and knee wraps, were a 247.5kg squat, 165kg bench press, 260kg deadlift, and 662.5kg total.

From 1984, however, after being beaten by 19 year olds, Laurie ‘turned to the dark side’ and soon returned to being Australia’s best lifter.

In 1985, Laurie lifted 10 times bodyweight with a total of 825kg as an 82.5kg lifter with a 310kg squat, 200kg bench and 315kg deadlift.

In 1986, Laurie finished 5th in the 90kg division at the IPF world championships in Le Hague, Holland, under the coaching orders of one Robert Wilks, then cautious with lifting weights.

In 1987, again under Wilks and still a cautious approach, Laurie finished 6th in Norway’s World champs.

But in the 1988 world championships, Laurie placed 2nd, lifting a 330kg squat, 200kg raw bench, 315kg and 845kg total, unfortunately missing 332.5kg to win. And Laurie passed the drug test.

In 1989, after just missing a 360kg squat, benching 212.5 and deadlifting 335kg, Laurie busted his left knee in a car lifting contest in Australia’s first strong man contest in the ACT, thus forcing him out of action until 1993.

In 1993, Laurie exploded back on to the scene to again be Australia’s best lifter at the age of 46 years with a 340kg squat, 205kg bench, 347.5kg deadlift and 892.5kg total at the CAPO national champs in Mildura.

Laurie was awarded best lifter at the CAPO nationals also in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. At the 1998 Darwin nationals, Laurie squatted an amazing 342.5kg at the age of 50.

While in somewhat decline in 1999 and 2000 by placing 2nd at the nationals to Mason Jardine, another great lifter, Laurie bounced back in 2002 to deadlift 340kg at the Muscle extravaganza at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. Not bad for a now 55 year old.

So after 50 years in strength sports, and still looking forward to more records at the 2012 nationals at Albury, just what has been Laurie’s approach to success? Laurie trains 3 times a week for 1 hour each session, spacing squats and deadlifts 5 days apart and benching in between. He usually performs 3 sets of 5-10 reps dropping to 1-3 reps close to the competition date with the last heavy lifts done about 14 to 10 days before the comp.

As of July 2012, Laurie was still the No. 2 CAPO lifter of all time in terms of total based on the Glossbrenner Formula. Laurie is still ranked as number one in the deadlift, as well as number five in the squat.


Laurie’s currently has 45 CAPO records, ranging from the open class to the 65-69 year age group.
 
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Below are a few photos of Laurie, including the biggest lifts mentioned above and Laurie's bodybuilding pose at 46 years age.
 
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What a great read Chris and one strong bloke! Jeeez! Thank you for posting! Awesome :)

(I'll check back later to see anymore pics you have of Laurie for us)
 
That photo above was taken for his last bodybuilding competition right Chris? At 45 years of age I believe?

Incredibly awesome! The man has a lifetime dedicated to the various pursuits of his physical self, just really incredible stuff.
 
People often ask Laurie why he keeps lifting at his age and his response is always "so I don't end up looking like you"
 
Chris if you get the chance ask Laurie what his motivation was for chasing (and taking) a lot of Ernie Frantz's world records.
 
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