RAY HICKMAN

Hundreds of weightlifters from around the world, gathered at an arena in Reno, Nev., gave Ray Hickman of Joseph a standing ovation.

Hickman, 38, captured his third world championship by lifting 557.6 pounds – almost three-and-a-half times his body’s weight of 165 – at a competition organized by the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters (WABDL), Oct. 27 through Nov. 1 at Peppermill Hotel in Reno. The event included 565 lifters, representing 12 states and 20 countries. Hickman’s accomplishment set Oregon, national and world records for his weight class.

“I trained a whole year straight for it,” Hickman said. “I changed my lifting program and went heavier than normal. Usually, that’s hard on your body but I did it just for that meet.”

The division of 165-pounders included 33 others. None came close to Hickman’s lift. Mike Bingham of Pa. took second place at 452.8. Jon Cunningham of Utah benched 420.9. A fellow Oregon native, Rick King, put up 418.7.

The 2009 title joined Hickman’s collection of awards. The head wrestling coach at Joseph High School from 2005 to 2008, he won his first WABDL championship in 2002 at 429.9 pounds. Two years later, he added another. Afterwards, he entered fewer events and focused on his family and work. But his competitive nature prodded him to Reno.

“I can stay in shape if I have a goal to shoot for,” Hickman said.