2019 Tom Gonnering | alpowerliftinghof

Thomas "Tom" Joel Gonnering

Chairman of the

Hall of Fame

2024 - Presnt

Born: February 10, 1952

Hometown: Northport, AL

Current Residence: Northport, AL

What is your Alabama Connection? I have lived in Alabama for 50 years.

Current pursuits in life & powerlifting:

I am retired from my career and am currently recovering from hip replacement surgeries and 2 heart attacks. I am resuming my workout routine in “rehab mode”. Overall, I have had a total of 18 surgeries. I plan to resume competing in powerlifting as soon as I am able, before the end of this year (2026).

Lifting History:

When did you start weightlifting and what inspired you to start weightlifting?

I started lifting in high school and in the military. I wanted to get stronger, at first for football, and then for overall strength.

When did you get involved with powerlifting and what got you interested in the sport?

After the military and starting a family, I took off about 5 years but then began seriously lifting again and entering a few local contests here and there. In 2001, Dan Davidson, a powerlifting friend, told me about a world qualifying competition in Birmingham with WABDL. I entered it and won my division, earning an invitation to the WABDL WORLDS in Reno, NV. I competed and won my first world championship, and I was hooked!

Do you have a powerlifting nick name, if so, what is it and how did you get it?

No, but Gus Rethwisch (WABDL founder) once referred to me as a “record-breaking machine”, at the WABDL WORLDS in Las Vegas in 2017.

What weight class(es) did you compete in?

165. 181, 198, 220, 242, 259, 275

What are your best lifts in each category in each weight class?

Tom Gonnering WABDL Worlds 2019 Family.jpg

2019 WABDL World's

Tom w/ Wife Laura and Family

That's what this is all about.

Best Lifts @ 165 lb. Weight Class

TOTAL

EQUIPMENT

SQUAT

BENCH PRESS

DEADLIFT

330.7

RAW

Best Lifts @ 181 lb. Weight Class

Number #1 Bench Press in the WABDL @ 181, Master Men 54-60 for 7 years 2007 - 2013

TOTAL

EQUIPMENT

SQUAT

BENCH PRESS

DEADLIFT

402.3

RAW

Best Lifts @ 198 lb. Weight Class

TOTAL

EQUIPMENT

SQUAT

BENCH PRESS

DEADLIFT

440.9

SINGLE PLY

Best Lifts @ 220 lb. Weight Class

TOTAL

EQUIPMENT

SQUAT

BENCH PRESS

DEADLIFT

462.9 @ 60 yo

SINGLE PLY

Best Lifts @ 242 lb. Weight Class

DEADLIFT

TOTAL

BENCH PRESS

EQUIPMENT

SQUAT

392.4 @ 67 yo

RAW

SINGLE PLY

468.5 @ 66 yo

Best Lifts @ 259 lb. Weight Class

TOTAL

EQUIPMENT

SQUAT

BENCH PRESS

DEADLIFT

358 @ 72 yo

RAW

Best Lifts @ 275 lb. Weight Class

TOTAL

EQUIPMENT

SQUAT

BENCH PRESS

DEADLIFT

363.7 @ 72 yo

RAW

How many years did you compete? 47 years and counting

Between what year and what year did you compete? 1979 to present

What is the approximate total number of meets you competed in? At least 100

List your favorite meets you competed in.

All of the WABDL WORLDS competitions that I have entered (at least 15 or 16), in Las Vegas, Reno, and Phoenix.
WABDL meet at Birmingham (world qualifier) in 2001.
Powerlifting meets at Willmore gyms in Rainbow City and Guntersville.
WABDL meets in Gadsden, Riverfest.
WABDL meet April 10, 2021, in Jonesboro, AR, where I set 4 world records in a row – every bench press I lifted was a world record.

What’s the highest classification you achieved? Elite

What’s the highest score you achieved? 189.08 Wilks (468.5 # @ 242 @ 66 years old)

What are some of your powerlifting accomplishments?

#1 on WABDL Top 100 bench press for 7 years in a row, from approximately 2007-2013
Longevity of competing and still setting records
Ability to recover and come back after multiple injuries and surgeries.
WABDL Hall of Fame
Alabama Powerlifting Hall of Fame