After experimenting with weightlifting, Reinhoudt began
powerlifting in 1969. For the young Reinhoudt, his powerlifting idols, were
Jon Cole,
John Kuc and
Jim Williams who were the greatest pioneers of the sport. Reinhoudt took 3rd place in his first international appearance in the open division at the inaugural 1972
AAU World Powerlifting Championships with a 2,150 lb total finishing only behind
John Kuc and
Jim Williams. He went on to finish in 1st place 4 times in a row at the World Powerlifting Championships from 1973 to 1976, also winning the United States national titles during the same span. He was the only Super Heavyweight to hold
IPF World Records in all three lifts (
squat,
bench press,
deadlift) as well as in the
Total simultaneously. achieved in 1975. This Total of 2391 lb stood until 2013 as the highest powerlifting total ever achieved without supportive equipment (raw), Had he managed it, at that time, he would have been the only lifter in history, whose name would have registered in all of the three powerlifting hall of fames for the 900 pound raw squat, 600 pound raw bench press and 900 pound deadlift.
Meet results •
1972 AAU World Championships Bronze, +242 lb Class (
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania) :Squat: 830 lb, Bench: 590 lb, Deadlift: 730 lb---Total: 2150 lb •
1973 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania) :Squat: 407.5 kg (899 lb), Bench: 262.5 kg (579 lb), Deadlift: 362.5 kg (799 lb)---Total 1032.5 kg (2277 lb) •
1974 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (
New York City,
New York) :Squat: 410 kg (904 lb), Bench: 252.5 kg (557 lb), Deadlift: 375 kg (827 lb)---Total: 1037.5 kg (2288 lb) •
1975 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (
Birmingham,
England) :Squat: 400 kg (882 lb), Bench: 250 kg (551 lb), Deadlift: 380 kg (838 lb)---Total: 1030 kg (2271 lb) •
1976 IPF Champion +110 kg (+242 lb) Class (
New York City,
New York) :Squat: 390 kg (860 lb), Bench: 252.5 kg (557 lb), Deadlift: 372.5 kg (821 lb)---Total: 1015 kg (2238 lb)
Health complications and transition into Strongman On November 10, 1976, after winning the IPF World Championships, Reinhoudt retired from powerlifting mainly due to the inconvenience his heavy weight caused to his health, such as shortness of breath and lack of flexibility. He quickly dropped his weight from 365 to 239 pounds in the time span of only four months. In preparation for his appearance at the
1978 World's Strongest Man, Reinhoudt competed one last time at the Eastern Open in 1977, in the 275-pound class, where he set four world records: At 264 pounds bodyweight he totalled 2000 lb (725/525/750). He never competed in powerlifting afterwards and put all his energy on lifting for the World's Strongest Man shows. ==World's Strongest Man==