The 2026 Testify Strengthlifting Challenge was recently held in Omaha, NE. For the women, the Best Lifter Award (Morgard the Manatee) went to Megan Martin, and for the men, the Best Lifter Award went to Camden Grasmick. In the master's division, the Best Lifter Award for the women again went to Megan, and the Best Lifter Award for the men went to Alan Giaffoglione. Full Meet Results

Megan pulls 150 kg for her 3rd attempt at the annual Strengthlifting Challenge at Testify Strength & Conditioning in Omaha, NE, this past weekend. Megan went 9-for-9 on the day and set a PR in her squat as well at 130 kg. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

Jo Ann locks out 117 kg for her 3rd attempt deadlift at the Testify Strengthlifting Challenge. Jo Ann went 9-for-9 and set PRs in all three lifts - a pretty solid day! [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

At the Testify Strengthlifting Challenge, Nate presses 72 kg for a smooth PR on his third attempt. Nate went 9-for-9 on the day and competed alongside his dad, Dave. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

Dave squats 137 kg for his third attempt at this weekend's Testify Strengthlifting Challenge. Dave went 9-for-9, and it was quite the family event - Dave lifted with his son, Nate, and Dave's daughters, Abbie and Charlie, helped out as loaders and spotters. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

Danis

I want to know if you have any suggestions for shoulder rehab. I've searched the videos and it seems most of the stuff I've found is for tears or post surgery. I originally hurt both my shoulders a few months ago with an improper squat grip on a heavy set. My left one healed pretty quickly but right one progressively got worse. I took a few weeks off iced it all that I also tried to train through it and see a physiotherapist but nothing really helped. I just recently had it imaged and the results were infraspinatus tendinopathy and positive for impingement. I've been training and doing physio but my training has been shit for a couple months now. I haven't been doing any overhead presses and switched to the safety squat bar which I absolutely hate. I'm sure you've come across this before and my apologies if it's been covered already and I missed it but I would really appreciate your input here as I've seen multiple physiotherapists and can't seem to get it fixed. Thanks

Mark Rippetoe

Presses and chins fix most shoulder problems that are not anatomically deranged.

Danis

Everywhere I went said nothing overhead due to the impingement. When I was training through it, it didn't seem to help. But I haven't done any overhead presses or chins for a while now as I completely laid off anything with arms overhead. Just to clarify, you recommend going back and training as usual? Get back into overhead pressing and add back chins? What do you think about squats? The low bar position induces quite a bit of pain when my arm is squeezed into the position.

Mark Rippetoe

If you shrug overhead at the end of the press ROM, nothing impinges. This is in the book that your "physiotherapists" haven't read.

Mmll

Hi Rip, I have 4 questions:

1. Do iron plates usually have a shorter diameter than bumper plates?

2. There are some bumper plates im interested in buying. Their diameter is 450mm with a 51mm ring diameter...is this a conventional size for deadlifting? Eg the deadlifts people do at starting strength gyms etc.

3. If i deadlift with these bumpers, will i be making it too easy on myself? Im just wondering if they are too big meaning that id be lifting from a higher than ideal position off the ground?

4. The bumper plates have a steel internal ring...is this normal for bumpers?

Thanks so much.

Mark Rippetoe

1. Standard plate diameter is 45 cm, iron or bumper.

2. By "ring diameter" I assume you mean the inside diameter (ID) of the hole in the middle. Approximately 2.00 inches is also standard.

3. These are the same plates everybody uses. We make it harder by putting more weight on the bar.

4. Bumper plates have a steel or iron core, around which the rubber is formed. You are seeing that part of the plate.

Mmll

Thanks a lot.

I was also hoping to make a platform with the dimensions you've previously suggested but i havnt got the space for an 8 foot by 8 foot square platform.

So, if i use b grade plywood or better, and have 3 layers of just 1 sheet of 8 foot by 4 foot...with two 13kg 1 square metre gym mats on top...would this protect a garage floor to a similar level as the 8 foot by 8 foot design? If not, do you think it would still be enough for protecting the floor? i currently deadlift 175kg for set of 5 and improving. The thickness of each of the sheets i was planning on buying are 0.75 inches. Thanks

Mark Rippetoe

The plans for the platform are in the book.