All Sport Report

Brent “Sgt Rock” Howard is a deadlift specialist who has one of the most dynamic personalities and energetic stage presences in the world of strength sports. He got his start in powerlifting as a “skinny 145 pounder” in high school, Gary Viles who was Brent’s high school strength coach saw something special in him and decided to give him a shot…Viles proved to be a very smart man, Brent pulled 335 lbs in his first attempt at the deadlift.

Since breaking into the sport Brent has gone from that skinny kid with a very impressive first attempt to be at the pinnacle of the sport in the deadlift, incredibly managing to pull more than three times his body weight in each of the following weight classes: 148,165,181,198,220 and 242!

Where did the nickname come from?

Brent joined the Marine Corps in 1995, “I wanted to be the best so I joined the Corps.” The nickname comes from the fact that Brent was the only recruit of the Corps, ever, that couldn’t float. After countless jumps into the pool for swim qualification, and countless hours of one on one practice with instructors the Marine Corps brass came to the conclusion that it just wasn’t going to happen, Howard was a freak of nature, a rock - so from boot camp up through the ranks Brent was LCpl Rock, then Cpl Rock and finally Sgt Rock, since then the name has just stuck.

Sgt Rock will again be lifting in “the Cage” at the Arnold Classic in March, “being involved in the Arnold every year is a true blessing for me.”

For those of you that don’t know about the Arnold, it’s a pretty prestigeous event, with a bodybuilding competition and the Arnold Sports Expo that includes a variety of events - strongman, arm wrestling, and for the first time this year sumo. You don’t just walk in and fill out a form to be involved in Arnold, it’s invitation only, and Brent being asked back each year shows not only his tremendous dedication to the sport but the fact that he drastically improves what he’s capable of, enough to where he can continually impress the thousands and thousands that attend the Arnold each year.

For a man who’s so charismatic in competition and who’s done so many very impressive things on the platform, Brent Howard is incredibly humble, “of all the things I’ve accomplished in powerlifting, having the opportunity to help people is the most important to me,” this coming from a man who has deadlifted 600 lbs for ten reps, been on the cover of Monster Muscle Magazine and graced the pages of Sports Illustrated. Sgt Rock is willing to spend more than two extra hours in the gym each day to help other lifters get ready for their competitions, I don’t know of very many, if any, other professional athletes that are willing to go to such lengths in order to help someone else reach their goals.

After putting on what I’m sure will be a very impressive show in the Cage at Arnold, Brent will be heading to the Riverfest in Gadsden Alabama, “a lot of my close friends live in Gadsden, I always put up big numbers there. I love that show, you can look for a big pull there this year.”

If Brent Howard calls for a big lift you can almost bank on it, he’s not one for disappointing the crowd.

Brent Howard is a mere thirty six years of age, which means he’s got a lot of pulls left in him. He’s managed to work through two torn pectoral muscles and a torn bicep without so much as missing a beat. He’s looking to hit an official deadlift of 895 lbs at a weight of 242 before moving up a weight class to 275 to “see what happens.” I personally can’t imagine, but judging from his track record I can tell you that the sky is the limit.

For more info on Brent “Sgt Rock” Howard go here.

powerlifting, deadlift, Sgt Rock, Brent Howard, Arnold Classic