TO THE YOUNG GUYS I’D SAY, LISTEN TO THIS OLD MAN, I’VE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE. DON’T MAKE MY MISTAKE, PROTECT YOUR HANDS, YOU WON’T GET ANY NEW ONES IF YOU MESS THESE UP!

BIG BACK GRIPS USER PROFILE INTERVIEW: CT FLETCHER – MASTER’S COMPETITOR
CT Fletcher is a 53-year-old power lifter and now a bodybuilder from Long Beach, California. He trains atMetroflex Gym Long Beach under the excellent guidance of co-owner Chris Albert. Metroflex Long Beachis Big Back Grips’ home gym, which is how we met CT. As a power lifter, CT has trained bare-handed all his life, which makes sense since power lifters are only allowed lifting chalk in competition.
But now that he’s into bodybuilding, he’s a true Big Back Believer. We recently sponsored him in the NPC Excalibur in Culver City, California. He came in 2nd Place, Master’s Over 50. The next morning we did a photo/video shoot with him at Metroflex, and afterwards we had a few minutes to sit down and chat.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
BBG: First CT, can you give everyone a little background on yourself: where you’re from, what you do, etc.
CT: Well, I’m originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, but I’ve been here in Southern California for 50 years. I was a 6-time world champion power lifter, and now I’m a world champion professional bodybuilder.
BBG: Now, you’re 53 years old. When did you pick up your first weight? When did you start pursuing power lifting seriously? How long were you at it?
CT: I was 22 when I picked up my first weight. I started lifting seriously in 1983 and kept lifting until 1997.
BBG: Now that you’ve switched to bodybuilding, do you still do or plan to do more powerlifting?
CT: Half my workout, still to this day, is devoted to power lifting. It is a major part of my workout. As far as whether I will go back to competing in power lifting, I’m done with that arena. I’ve accomplished everything I set out to accomplish in power lifting.
BBG: What are some of the highlights of your power lifting career? What are you especially proud of?
CT: I won the world strict curl championship three times and the world bench press championship three times. But the highlight of my career, by far, is the 705 lb shirtless attempt at the baddest bench press in America contest in 1995. I didn’t actually make that lift but I still feel it was my greatest accomplishment because I did it drug free against the best power lifters in the world.