He is a kind, compassionate and caring special education teacher by day. However, when he’s not in the classroom, this teacher is in the weight room defying normal human strength with his deadlifting abilities.
On this episode of the Supercast, meet Sheldon Russell. An incredible teacher and world record holder in powerlifting weight lifting. Find out how Sheldon has defied the odds in life and is inspiring others around him every day.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. He is a kind, compassionate, and caring special education teacher by day. However, when he's not in the classroom, this teacher is in the weight room defying normal human strength with his deadlifting abilities. On this episode of the Supercast, meet Sheldon Russell, an incredible teacher and world record holder in deadlift weightlifting. Find out how Sheldon has defied the odds in life and is inspiring others around him every day.
We’re here at West Jordan High School with Sheldon Russell to talk about a world record that he holds. Sheldon, thanks for taking time.
Sheldon Russel:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now first, let's talk about you as a teacher and educator in Jordan District. Tell us a bit about your career.
Sheldon Russell:
Well, I've been all over the place and I did some administration for a while, did teaching special ed, and I decided to go back to doing what I love, special ed. I'm a lot older than I look. I've got a few years left and I thought I'd finish doing what I love to do.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's great. And tell us about your current teaching assignment.
Sheldon Russell:
I teach Life Skills at West Jordan High School. High school students with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities. It can be challenging, but it's fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's hard to come by Life Skills teachers. Explain to those who may not know what a Life Skills class is, what's involved.
Sheldon Russell:
We work on a lot of functional skills. So there's kids that may need help with reading or writing or math. My students need help in all facets of their life. So they will have some sort of dependence on people for the remainder of their life. Our job is to help them become as independent as possible. Some kids, we're working on writing numbers, other kids were working on finishing their math homework. But we deal with students with autism, down syndrome. We have kids with physical disabilities and impairments, hearing impairments, vision impairments. It's kind of a challenge, but like I said, I enjoy it.
Anthony Godfrey:
And how many students are served in this support classroom?
Sheldon Russell:
Okay, so we have 24 students in our support classroom and we have two teachers in there and we have some assistants that help us out as well.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's a really important program. And you have peer tutors I assume as well.
Sheldon Russell:
We do. Peer tutors come and help throughout the day, and they do a journal each week, and it's interesting reading what they write. And I've found this in my life, not only in my life, but I've noticed it with these kids. I'm an educator, but I get paid to learn every day. Working with kids like this gives you a lot of perspective on what life is really all about. So yes, I'm an educator, but I consider myself a professional student right now because I'm taught about life and perspective every day.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's true for the peer tutors that get to be part of your class as well. It's a really important program. Yes, the peer tutors are there to help the students who are in the support classroom and need the help, but I think they learn a lot about life, a lot of perspective. And develop some deep friendships themselves.
Sheldon Russell:
Absolutely. I see some kids that have their own challenges as peer tutors themselves, but they come in our room and it brings out the best in them, and they learn a lot about life. And this is my little plug for anyone who wants to go into special education. I tell all my peer tutors. It's a good field to be in.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, absolutely. And wonderful things happen in our support classrooms in Jordan District. We've done a couple of Supercast episodes in support classrooms, so thank you for filling that role and taking care of those kids that need it the very most.
Sheldon Russell:
You're welcome.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now let's talk about your hobby. It's hard to call it a hobby when you have reached these types of heights with a world record. How did you get started in weightlifting and when?
Sheldon Russell:
I was seven years old. My mother started dating my stepfather and he was actually a body building promoter.
Anthony Godfrey:
A Body building promoter?
Sheldon Russell:
Yes, he was back in the day.
Anthony Godfrey:
You were seven and what did he tell you? It's too late almost, but let's see if we can get you started?
Sheldon Russell:
Yeah, kind of. Actually, everyone was a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan back in the early eighties. And I watched Conan the Barbarian and I thought he was the coolest guy in the world. I even grew my hair out long when I was in the fifth grade and my dad called me Little Arnold. So I picked up a weight at seven years old and then I never stopped.
Anthony Godfrey:
And he was here to pump you up?
Sheldon Russell:
Exactly. That's right.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. You picked up, what size weight did you pick up when you were seven?
Sheldon Russell:
When I was seven, I had a little hollow bar with little five pound cement plates on each side. And my dad put me through a little exercise routine and then I just, once I hit about 15, I started going heavy. And I've done it for 40 years now. So I did powerlifting. I don't know if you remember those days.
Anthony Godfrey:
I do.
Sheldon Russell:
I do powerlifting. Excuse me, bodybuilding. And I got sick of eating chicken, broccoli and brown rice six or seven times a day. So I was always strong and I always thought I'd compete in the bench press. But I had a friend who got me into, he says, ‘Hey, come, come pull with me.’ And I go and pull with him and the first time we pull together, I pull 600 pounds. He says, ‘Hey, you should compete.’ And then the rest is history. I've been competing solid for three years straight now, and we've done quite a bit. There's more than one world record, but.
Anthony Godfrey:
More than one world record. I was selling you short. Tell me exactly what is a deadlift? It sounds like zombies are involved. But what is, what is an actual deadlift?
Sheldon Russell:
Well, you feel like you're gonna die when you lift it for sure. But you basically go down to the ground and you basically straight arms, and pull the weight up and stand up with it.
Anthony Godfrey:
So these are the guys who lean over or crouch down, pull up the weights and you just have to stand with the weight. And then you drop it to the ground.
Sheldon Russell:
You do not drop it to the ground.
Anthony Godfrey:
You don't drop to the ground.
Sheldon Russell:
You can while you're training.
Anthony Godfrey:
I always drop it to the ground when I'm deadlifting.
Sheldon Russell:
You don't drop it to the ground or the lift doesn't count. So you have to put it back down on the ground. So you pull it up, wait for the judge to wave his hand down, and then you put it down on the ground.
Anthony Godfrey:
So he has to show that you got it high enough.
Sheldon Russell:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
For long enough. And then you set it back down. So tell me, is putting it back down harder than it looks?
Sheldon Russell:
After you've strained yourself? Sometimes, yes. The first time I ever deadlifted 700 pounds was in training and I tweaked my back doing it, but it was still awesome. But I tweaked it, putting it down on the ground.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now, when you demonstrated that just now you had one hand facing back and one hand facing forward, is that how you lift?
Sheldon Russell:
That's called a mixed grip and I do lift that way. There's people that do double overhand and then they do a hook grip where they take their index figure and hold it over their thumb. That's extremely painful. And I have short thumbs, so I don't do it. I can't do it that way.
Anthony Godfrey:
That doesn't sound like a good idea at all.
Sheldon Russell:
Well, there's people that are good at hook grippers and I am not one of them. I'm mixed grip all the way, which also leads to a bunch of fun injuries as well.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Well, so that's a deadlift. Now tell me, how much have you lifted for each of your world records and in what category were you competing?
Sheldon Russell:
Okay, so currently I hold 37 records all together between State…
Anthony Godfrey:
37 records?!
Sheldon Russell:
Yes, in three years of competing. 37 State, National, and World records. So I hold three World records. There's an open federation, that is a non-tested federation, that means anyone can compete in it. I did 700 pounds.
Anthony Godfrey:
700 even?
Sheldon Russell:
700 even. And in the same competition I also got two additional world records at FitCon. Which were 700 pounds again, in the open division, so that's all ages, and the 45 to 49 age division. Now it's kind of neat because they do a little ranking system on openpowerlifting.org, and right now I'm gonna try and be humble here, but I'm ranked among all drug tested lifters number one in the world.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. Right now?
Sheldon Russell:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow! That's amazing. That’s really cool.
Sheldon Russell:
It's okay.
Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back more with Sheldon Russell.
Break:
Hello, I'm Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications for Jordan School District, and we want to invite you to connect with us. So many exciting things are happening in your child's school, your neighbor's school, in every school here, every day. Don't miss out on following the fun or simply staying informed when there's important information we need to share. Join us at jordandistrict.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @jordandistrict. We can't wait to connect.
Anthony Godfrey:
When did you realize that you were really good at this? Not just that you liked it, but that you had the potential to hold a world record or three and to really compete?
Sheldon Russell:
Well, I was always really strong. I just never considered it, really considered powerlifting. It was when I went with my friend that one day and he taught me. I used to be able to just casually pull 600 pounds off the ground, but my form was atrocious. I was using straps, which help you hold onto the bar. It was when I learned the techniques a little bit more and then immediately thought, ‘Wow, I could make some noise.’ And then in the first competition, I do 600 pounds and we get three state records there in the USPA. And then I thought, ‘Okay, here we go. Now it's gonna be fun.’ And then a few months later I did 655, and then I fought forever to get to the 700 pound club because it doesn't count unless you do it on the platform. So that's kind of cool.
Anthony Godfrey:
So do you do bench press and deadlift, or is it only deadlift at this point that you're focused on?
Sheldon Russell:
The full power in a competition is squat, bench and deadlift. So you could do the full power, which is bench press, squat and deadlift, or you could do push pull would be bench and deadlift, or you can just do bench or deadlift. I've benched and deadlifted in a meet. I wanna do a full power, but I'm too old and it hurts, so I do the best I can. So one day I will do one. I'll probably be really conservative with my numbers, at least on squat. And then we'll see what happens. But I have benched in competition. I have some records in bench in the APF and AAPF, but it's still, it's not like pulling.
I would be considered a deadlift specialist. So when, when guys get older, they usually veer away from full power. One of my friends I train with is a bench press specialist. Another one I train with is also a deadlift specialist. We're just too old, we sit all day. It's an all day event if you do full power. I can go at 2:00 and pull and be done at 6 or 7 and go home.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now I know you're a comic book fan. Yes. And as a deadlifter, you must connect with some superheroes or super villains. Are you a Hulk guy? Are you a Thing guy? Because you know, those guys can probably lift about 700 as well.
Sheldon Russell:
Well, I think you know the answer to that question.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell the people, tell the people.
Sheldon Russell:
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Man of Steel. Ever since I was a little boy it was Superman. I do like the Hulk. I do like all sorts of comics, but my favorite is Superman.
Anthony Godfrey:
There is something about Superman. Well, you ought to consider Cosplay because as a lifter like that, I mean you've the muscles for it. Have you considered that?
Sheldon Russell:
Yeah, but I also have the stomach. I could be The Blob. I've got the power lifting stomach. I could be The Blob as well.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's a very unique talent and skill and I wonder whether that's something that has helped you connect with students over the years?
Sheldon Russell:
Yeah, a little bit. When I taught at the middle school, West Jordan Middle, I think the internet was in its infancy at that point. But I did teach an after school weightlifting class. The important thing for me is that if I'm working with a kid and we're weightlifting, I do like to mention that lifting weights is a good metaphor for life. Okay. I didn't have the best situation growing up and I had a hard time, but this was one of the things that pulled me out. So if I'm having a difficult life, I go and lift a bunch of weight. I always made the connection. I tell this to students too. If you can lift that weight, what means you can't do this or that? What makes you think you can't pass that exam if you just lifted the weight you did? So I think it translates to other areas of life. And I tried to tell this to students that I have worked with. Because when you're there, it's just you and the weight and nothing else. And it's just pure determination. And that's what I love about the deadlift because out of all lifts, it's very basic and it's true grit that helps you get that weight off the ground. And good form. But that doesn't sound as cool as true grit.
Anthony Godfrey:
Hey, pure grit with a little bit of form. That's a good combination.
Sheldon Russell:
It would also avoid injury. So there you go.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. We were in the gym before. We're now in the weight room and Sheldon is pulling, pulling up plates. Is that what you call 'em?
Sheldon Russell:
Year, 45 pound plates.
Anthony Godfrey:
I know it's surprising, but I haven't done a lot of deadlifting in my life. Okay. Wow. It sounds very medieval in here.
Sheldon Russell:
It does. This will change it.
Anthony Godfrey:
So now you do 700 in competition. How much do you do to warm up to do 700 in competition?
Sheldon Russell:
One plate, two plates, three plates, four plates, five plates, six plates. Then usually I open up around 630. Then I went to about 670. Then I go to 700. But my goal is to be able to do what I can actually do in a competition. I've pulled 735 pounds in training. So it's a lot different when I'm competing though.
Anthony Godfrey:
Right, right. So each of these plates weighs how much?
Sheldon Russell:
45 pounds.
Anthony Godfrey:
How much does the bar weigh?
Sheldon Russell:
45 pounds.
Anthony Godfrey:
The bar is 45 pounds?
Russell Sheldon:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
I thought maybe I could do the bar. Okay. All right. Let's see. You, you have more plates to put on to get to 700?
Sheldon Russell:
Yeah. Do you want me to demonstrate the lift?
Anthony Godfrey:
Let's do a mild lift and avoid any workers' compensation, shall we?
Sheldon Russell:
Yes, let's do a mild lift.
Anthony Godfrey:
And these are the clips, right?
Sheldon Russell:
Yes. That hold the weight on. You want to make sure that you like my shirt deadlifts build character.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes. Okay. What is the lingo associated with lifting here? Those are plates. Those are clips.
Sheldon Russell:
Plates. Clips. Barbell. This isn't even a real deadlift bar, this is a regular barbell. I use a Texas deadlift bar that bends really well. It's about $400.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, so it does bend in the middle.
Sheldon Russell:
It does bend a little bit. It has some give to it. My wife's gonna listen to this later and I'm sorry, the bar did cost $400. It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Anthony Godfrey:
Exactly. So okay, well we're gonna step back and take a look here.
Sheldon Russell:
Okay. So if you've noticed, you wanna wear either like, I'll train barefoot sometimes, or there's like slippers called deadlift slippers. You want to have a shoe that is close to the ground as possible so you can clamp into the ground and then if you can't, so you can dig into the ground. You don't want cushion on your feet cause you want a stable base. So I'm gonna walk up right to the bar. Okay. Make sure your weight is on your heels and you want as much as possible to be as close to the bar as possible. Then I'm gonna grab and cinch in, make sure my arms are even. So I'm gonna grab and wrap around and then I'm gonna go up. Okay. Then they'll say down, put it down. The most important thing, you keep that weight next to you and like you're almost standing up from a sitting position. You don't want your back to round and you want your head up so as to avoid that back rounding injury. I've seen some pretty bad form. I've even had that pretty bad form. That wasn't the greatest form of the world, but I've come miles since I started.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Great. It's impressive just to see the technique that you applied. Have you ever lifted a car off of someone that was trapped underneath? Cuz it seems like you could.
Sheldon Russell:
No. but I have done car deadlift before. Those are fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
You have done a car deadlift? So how does one go about a car deadlift?
Sheldon Russell:
They put a little contraption underneath it with handlebars and then you just go to it and pull it up an do reps.
Anthony Godfrey:
What kind of car did you lift?
Sheldon Russell:
I can't remember. It was a white car. It was a mid-sized sedan.
Anthony Godfrey:
After you've lifted a car, everything probably goes white. Okay. As you load this, I'm struck by the fact that you have to walk all the way up and down through the weight room to get enough weight on this bar to hit 700 pounds.
Sheldon Russell:
Yeah. Well, a little sacrifice. The worst part is putting the weight back when you're done.
The whole idea of this is a determination sport. I think you learn a lot of life lessons in a weight room because it's just you and the iron and your grit, your determination and your consistency, which makes it key.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's just you and the iron. I like that. And I'm sure that it teaches kids and adults alike that there's something that you didn't think you could do and you can build up to it, and you can work hard, and overcome things, and accomplish things that you never imagined.
Sheldon Russell:
Yes, exactly.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, thank you so much for taking the time. It's fascinating. I'm really excited that I know a world record holder in power lifting and I just, I think it's incredible. So it's great to spend time with you and good luck with everything this year.
Sheldon Russell:
Well, thank you. And if you ever want a deadlift, I'll train you.
Anthony Godfrey:
When I'm ready for the next thing. That's, that's, I don't even know what to say. I'll just say, Yeah. When I'm ready, you'll hear from me.
Sheldon Russell:
Okay.
Anthony Godfrey:
All right. Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see out there.