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Reservist wins 4th military powerlifting title

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Paul Flipse
  • HQ AFRC/Recruiting Service
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  A member of Air Force Reserve Command's Recruiting Service here earned three gold medals at the 2010 USA Military National Powerlifting/Bench Press Championships on March 20 at Brooks City Base near San Antonio.

Master Sgt. Tina Robinson, Reserve Recruiting first sergeant, won the bench press in the female 198-pound weight class for the "Raw," "Masters" and "Open" divisions.

Her winning bench-press of 253 pounds also broke national records in all three divisions.

"Raw" refers to lifting without supportive equipment such as bench-press shirts; only belts and wrist-wraps are allowed. "Masters" is limited to age 40 and older, and "open" is open to all ages, according to Barbara Born, a representative from event organizer USA Powerlifting. Both the masters and open divisions allow supportive equipment.

Sergeant Robinson attended the event as part of the Air Force Powerlifting Team, which placed second behind the Army in the team competition.

This year's victory marks the fourth time Sergeant Robinson has won the military national title. Her three gold medals will take their places alongside the dozens of other first-place trophies, medals and ribbons that adorn her office. Yet, when asked what she enjoys most about lifting, she cites a more human element.

"I love meeting other powerlifters," she said. "They're my extended family."

While deployed in 2008, Sergeant Robinson won the female division of the "Strongest in the AOR" competition, in which she competed against Airmen from all the units in Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility in Southwest Asia. Despite all her experience and success, competing still gives her butterflies.

"I still get nervous most of the time," she said. "Once I get that first lift in, I'm OK."

Sergeant Robinson hopes to compete at next year's Military Nationals in Pensacola, Fla. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)