Recognized. Certified. Proven.

My passion for powerlifting carried me to heights I never expected. Since 1990, I’ve competed at the elite level. In 1989, I was inducted into the Powerlifting Hall of Fame. Between 1995 and 2002, I became an eight-time National Masters Champion and a World Champion.

At age 43, I set the American Masters squat record—733 pounds at 198 pounds bodyweight. At 53, I broke the World Masters bench press record with 500 pounds, and I’ve gone on to break that world record 42 times across multiple age categories.

In 2003, Slippery Rock University dedicated the “Garry Benford Weight Training Center” in my honor. In 2009, I was inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2012, I was named Outstanding Alumni of the Year. Along the way, I wrote “Powerlifting: A Guide for Coaches and Athletes” and contributed to countless fitness publications.

In 2025, I was accepted as a Featured Speaker for the Professional Speakers Bureau International. www.terfficspeakers.com