Joe Ladnier

In 1983, Joe competed in the Men's Senior Nationals, open-division. He squatted 837, benched-523, deadlift-749 and totaled 2110. Joe is the first man in history to break 2,100 in the 220-pound class. Joe beat the legendary Fred "Dr. Squat" Hatfield and world champion James Cash when he was only nineteen years old. close window

Joe also won the short class division during the 1987, NPC Jr. Florida State Bodybuilding Championship. close window

Joe is a living example of power, strength and conditioning. His experience as a professional competitor in bodybuilding and powerlifting is invaluable. Imagine what you would learn during a one-on-one advanced program with Joe Ladnier?
close window

"Never Say Never!" During the 2001, APF Southern States Championship, Joe Ladnier returns to powerlifting. He squatted 733-pounds, benched 545.5-pounds and dead lifted 722-pounds for a 2,000.5 total. During the March, 2002 World Powerlifting Organization Finals, in Columbus, Ohio, Joe's numebrs were 749.6, 606.3, and 688.9 for a 2044.8 total. close window

Another photo of Joe during the deadlift event of the 2002 WPO Finals in Columbus, Ohio, Arnold Classic. close window

During the 2002 WPO Finals, Joe during the awards ceremony. close window

The 2002 APF Senior Nationals, in York, PA, at 261.24, Joe wins the 275.25 Mne's Open division. His numbers were 848.92, 661.5, and 705.6 for a huge 2216.02 total. close window

One more photo of Joe Ladnier as he approaches the 705.6 deadlift, during the 2002 APF Senior Nationals. The great, Larry Pacifico bragged about Joe having the "eye of the tiger" when competing, but Joe's winning attitude is reflected in all areas of his life, especially when training or training clients. close window

Joe began competing as a powerlifter and bodybuilder at the age of 15 and has continued off and on, until this present time. Joe worked as a fitness trainer in 1979 at the Americana Health Spa in Pascagoula, Mississippi. In January 1980, Joe lifted in his first AAU powerlifting meet with the Mississippi Ironmen's Powerlifting Team, where he met Fred Hatfield, who was doing a seminar at the meet. By the end of my senior year of high school, I'd won three teenage nationals with best lifts of 667 squat, 457 bench press and a 705 deadlift at 198lbs. Back then (1981) there was no scholarships in powerlifting, but Louisiana Tech offered me a partial football scholarship so that I could lift on their team. I turned them down and decided to attend a local junior college and train for the men's senior nationals in Dayton, Ohio, 1982, I was eighteen years old. By 1982, Joe had won three teenage nationals, numerous local, state and tri-state meets. In July of that year, at the age of 18, Joe competed in the USPF Men's Senior Nationals in Dayton, OH. This is when Joe first met Mr. Powerlifting, Larry Pacifico. Larry has nine consecutive world powerlifting titles to his credit.

After the contest, Larry approached Joe with a job offer and asked if he would be interested in working / training with him and his team (Elite Powerlifting Team) in Dayton, OH. Without hesitation, Joe accepted the deal and Larry Pacifico became a mentor and helped launch Joe Ladnier’s Powerlifting career.

While growing up, many lifters inspired Joe Ladnier. All the big names back then, Chucky Dunbar, Inaba, "Smokin" Joe Bradley, Lamar Grant, Ricky Gaugler, Rickey Crain, Mike and Bobby Bridges, John Inzer, Walter Thomas, Jim Cash, Buddy "the iceman" Duke, Eddy Coan, Larry Pacifico, Fred Hatfield, Jon Kuc, Doug Furnas, Lee Moran, Dave Waddington, John Black, Danny Wohleber, Ernie Hackett, Ernie Frantz, Andy Kerr, Doyle Kennady, Gus Rethwich, Wayne Bouvier, John Gamble, Mark Challiet, Bill Kazmier ;/and many more. All the lifters Joe mentioned above helped him in one way or another, but Larry Pacifico helped Joe more than anyone else. He treated Joe like family, taking him in as his prodigy. Of Course, Dr. Squat, Fred Hatfield, has always been Joe's scientific and professional mentor, as well as his friend. Ed Coan's strength and longevity has always held Joe's admiration through the years. In the early 80's, Joe made a decent living doing seminars/exhibitions.

By the end of the 80’s, Joe felt everything had changed so much and powerlifting was almost nonexistent, where he grew up on the Mississippi gulf coast. At one time, Joe placed an ad in the paper trying to find a training partner, but after winning the men's drug free world championships in 1989, he knew that competing was over, at least for a while. Joe lost the hunger, the "eye of the tiger," attitude that Pacifico bragged about him having and realized that winning a trophy didn't mean that much to him any more, so he decided to take a few years off from competition.

To date, Joe has a successful personal training business, where he trains clients from all over the nation. He even has an Internet training service www.myworkoutprogram.com (trainer code Number 519236)

Joe's favorite lifting accomplishments include, 1980-Teenage nationals- 165lbs class, 16/17 year old division- squat-525, bench-325, deadlift-585. It was his dad's birthday and Joe presented him with his awards. In 1983, Joe competed in the Men's Senior Nationals, open-division and squatted 837, benched-523, deadlift-749 and totaled 2110. Joe is the first man in history to break 2,100lbs in the total in the 220-pound class. Joe beat the legendary Fred "Dr. Squat" Hatfield and world champion James Cash when he was only nineteen years old.

Best gym lifts: 960-squat, 800-bench, 832-deadlift Odd lifts: 1,100lb ¼ squat, 1,500lb leg-press, and 1,035lb deadlift-lockout. Total 2,214 lbs &seated behind the neck press-385lbs.

I hold the masters (40 to 49) WPC world record with 722 @ 242

Some additional stats, DOB 10-14-63, 5' 7" - Biggest measurements-278lbs, neck-22", chest 53", arms-22", waist-36", thighs-30", calves-19"

back to top