Chad Aichs has been strength training with a barbell in his hands for over 34 years. He started out like most young kids wanted to be better at sports. This greatly helped him out while playing football in high school. It also allowed him success throwing the shot put and discus which he went on to do in college. Unfortunate issues with chronic compartment syndrome forced him to stop competing while in college. The love of lifting and competing never left him though. He continued to train and educate himself with just about every strength system out there. At the age of 27 he found powerlifting and started a journey to becoming one of the strongest strength athletes of all time. After competing for almost 20 years he had broke the squat, bench, deadlift, and total amateur world records countless times. He was one of only a handful (or less) of lifters to ever squat over 1000lbs, bench over 700lbs, or total over 2400lbs drug free. In his first professional meet he broke the full meet bench press world record which he went on to break again later. He was ranked 2nd in the SHW division in Powerlifting USA magazine. When he performed his best squat of 1173lbs it was ranked 4 highest of all time. His best bench of 821lbs was ranked 6th highest bench of all time and the highest full meet bench press of all time. His best total of 2733lbs was ranked 4th highest of all time. Today his best squat, bench, and total are still ranked in the top ten all time highest lifts. Throughout his powerlifting career he won multiple American and World Championships. He is considered by many a legend in the sport of powerlifting.

Chad has such a passion for lifting and strength sports that he has never stopped studying and learning about strength. This remains true even though he does not compete at the level he used to and does not dedicate as much of his life to competing as he once did. Chad has become famous for his knowledge of lifting technique and his ability to coach it. He is truly fascinated by the way the human body moves and the true potential it has both physically and mentally. It is this passion and fascination that drive him to continue learning and staying up to date with any advancements in strength training. To this day he still attends seminars and travels to train with other top strength athletes in order to continue his strength education. It is because of his drive for excellence that EliteFTS has had him as an team athlete for over 20 years. He has written training log, articles, and been a EliteFTS coach during this time. He currently writes a bi monthly column and coaches at seminars for them. Training and strength are a way of life for Chad.

Through much of Chad’s powerlifting career he has trained at American Iron Gym in Reno NV. He has actually called it his second home. It seems only fitting that Chad is now working with American Iron Gym to offer his strength training services. Chad definitely has the skills and loves to work with strength athletes from the beginner to the advanced. Chad’s lifting passion bridges all gaps though. He is just as competent training kids to have better physical preparedness all the way to the mature adults looking to increase the quality of their later years in life. He believes all lifting starts with a solid base which includes good flexibility, mobility, and solid movement patterns. He believes true strength takes time and the best way to gain that is to do it safely and consistently. This means there is more to training than just using weights. Chad believes the same principles that make a great athlete also make for great quality of life, just with different intensity. He says with a little time in the gym everyone can have a much better and fulling life.