Fuels lab manager sets weight lifting records

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kristin Stevens
  • 92nd LRS Fuels Management flight commander
How many people do you know who can squat 800 pounds, dead lift 700 pounds and bench press 500 pounds? 

Staff Sgt. Christopher Smith from the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron can do just that. 

Sergeant Smith is currently ranked 26th in the nation when it comes to power lifting. In 2006, he set four state records and one national record. 

He was hand-selected to be a Squadron Physical Training Leader because of his ability to promote fitness within the squadron. Currently he is training four other members of the Fuels Management flight to compete alongside him in a power lifting event scheduled for June 10 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. 

“He put the bug in my ear about powerlifting, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” said Senior Airman Steve Bangsund, 92nd LRS fuels laboratory technician. 

When he’s not training for the next tournament, Sergeant Smith supervises the Fuels Management flight’s fuels laboratory. He is responsible for ensuring the quality control of 4.2 million gallons of aviation and ground fuel in support of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing tanker fleet, the 36th Rescue Flight UH1-N helicopters, the 336th Training Group’s Air Force Survival School fuels operations in Cusick, Wash., and more than 500 wing assigned vehicles. 

Sergeant Smith began weight training in 1993. He started training for power lifting events in 1998, after meeting a power lifter while deployed to the Middle East. While deployed, he won first place in a competition by lifting 132 pounds. 

Thanksgiving Day in 1999 he competed in his first of 40 competitions. He is currently a member of the American Powerlifting Federation, the World Association of Bench Pressers and Dead Lifters, the American Powerlifting Association and Pride Powerlifting. 

This year at the Pride Powerlifting championships, he set two Idaho state records and two Washington state records in the dead lift and bench press competitions by lifting 605 and 460 pounds respectively. He also set the National American dead lift record by lifting an amazing 705 pounds.