Charles Temple Ali Fletcher
C.T. Fletcher was born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. He was born on June 8, 1959, and made a name for himself during the 1990s primarily in the bench press and the strict curl. However, C.T. did not become a widely known public figure until the early 2010s, when he appeared on YouTube sharing his message alongside footage of his past performances.
His strength, physique, and charisma took the internet by storm. In less than a year, he went from being virtually unknown to having some of the longest lines at the world’s largest fitness expos. Going from obscurity to becoming the most popular figure in strength training in such a short time is rare even today, when multiple platforms make it easier to grow quickly. That a man over 50 years old accomplished this more than ten years ago is genuinely remarkable.
Even though C.T. peaked in fame during the early 2010s, he was already a well-known figure in certain circles long before that. He had what could be described as “iron credibility.” During the 1990s, he competed and gained recognition in both the bench press and the strict curl. He received coverage in Powerlifting USA and appeared in Power Video Magazine. In smaller federations, he won titles and set records.
When it came to overall top bench press performances across the board, he was consistently among the top lifters, but never at the very top. When considering claims that he was drug-free, his rankings improved, and in some years he was considered the highest-ranked lifter in that context. However, these rankings were unofficial and not part of any formal or standardized list.
Strict curl
In addition to his bench press achievements, C.T. Fletcher was also one of the most influential figures in the history of strict curl. He was a three-time world champion in strict curl, a lift that tests pure arm strength by requiring the lifter to keep the head, back, and glutes against a wall throughout the entire movement, eliminating momentum from the legs and lower back. In 1993, C.T. set the world record in strict curl with an official lift of approximately 102 kg / 225 lbs, a record that stood as the benchmark in the discipline for over 20 years. During that period, his lift was widely regarded as the standard against which all other strict curl performances were measured. While strict curl is not part of standard powerlifting competitions, it has long had its own world championships and record lists, and Fletcher’s performances helped define the sport. Through both his competitive success and later influence, he played a major role in reviving interest in strict curl, earning him the nickname “The Godfather of Strict Curl.”
Competition Results and Bodyweight
Leading into that competition, his best competition bench press was 277.5 kg / 611 lbs, at a time when nearly all lifters competed in bench shirts. C.T. has stated that he benched 320 kg / 705 lbs in training and also performed a 328.9 kg / 725 lbs board press in competition around the same period.
Considering how bench shirts worked in the mid-1990s, it is not unreasonable to miss 272.5 kg / 600 lbs and then jump directly to 320 kg / 705 lbs. At his strongest, he achieved 295 kg / 650 lbs in competition before retiring from competitive lifting in 1996.
He competed in the -125 kg / -275 lbs, +125 kg / +275 lbs, and, when available, the -145 kg / -320 lbs classes. During his strongest years, his bodyweight was often around 132 kg / 290 lbs.
How Strong Was C.T. Fletcher in Raw Bench Press?
C.T. Fletcher competed during an era when raw or classic bench press was not an established category. As a result, there are very few official competition records documenting his raw bench press strength. However, there are two verified raw performances worth noting.
In 1991, C.T. benched 261 kg / 575 lbs at a bodyweight of 125 kg / 275 lbs, which at the time stood as a world record in the NASA federation. A couple of years later, in 1993, he benched 277.5 kg / 611 lbs at a bodyweight of 130 kg / 286 lbs. These are the only confirmed competition numbers that can reasonably be considered raw by today’s standards.
It is also important to understand the context of bench shirts in the early to mid-1990s. Compared to modern equipment, shirts from that era provided relatively modest carryover. This becomes clear when comparing C.T.’s shirted competition lifts to his training footage performed in only a T-shirt.
One of the most well-known examples is the video “Reppin’ 500 Naturally with C.T. Fletcher,” which alone has over five million views and likely close to ten million across reuploads. In that video, C.T. works up to 225 kg / 495 lbs in the bench press. His grip is not maximum width, meaning not the full 81 cm between the rings, but closer to a medium grip with the pinky on or slightly inside the ring.
In the same session, he performs a long paused set with 184 kg / 405 lbs, continues for additional repetitions, and then completes a set of five reps at 225 kg / 495 lbs. The spotter assists slightly early on the final rep, but it is likely he would have completed it regardless.
From coaching hundreds of competitive bench pressers, it is common to see that lifters with longer elbow ranges of motion tend to perform fewer repetitions, as each rep requires more work. This is also evident when comparing grip widths. If the same lifter maxes with different grips and then performs repetitions at the same percentage, the narrowest grip typically yields the fewest reps, while the widest yields the most.
Given this context, performing five touch-and-go reps at 225 kg / 495 lbs with a medium grip suggests a strong carryover to a one-rep max. Translating those reps gives a hypothetical raw 1RM of approximately 265 kg / 585 lbs, with 225 kg / 495 lbs representing about 85 percent. Combined with his competition personal best of 277.5 kg / 611 lbs, and the widely held belief at the time that what could be paused in a bench shirt often matched what could be touch-and-go maxed in the gym, it is reasonable to estimate that C.T. could bench 265–272 kg / 585–600 lbs raw on a very good day.
Had C.T. competed under modern raw rules in the 2010s, it is highly likely that he would have achieved a 600 lbs raw bench press in competition.
The 705 lbs Raw Attempt
At the 1995 Greatest Bench Press in America, C.T. opened with 272 kg / 600 lbs, but had difficulty touching the bar to his chest. He had chosen an extremely tight bench shirt, hoping for maximum carryover. Unfortunately, the shirt was too tight, and the touch point became excessively high. During the descent of the bar, the shirt tore before the bar even reached his chest.
He did not come out for his second attempt, likely due to uncertainty about how to proceed. For his third and final attempt, he came out for 320 kg / 705 lbs, a weight he had successfully handled in training with a bench shirt and clearly had set as his goal for the competition. With the shirt already destroyed, his chances were drastically reduced.
Despite this, C.T. chose to take the attempt without a bench shirt, not even wearing a T-shirt, only a singlet. Although he was not close to completing the lift, it was an exceptionally honest attempt and one he has described as one of the most defining moments of his career.
Steroids
C.T. made a strong point of claiming that he had never used steroids in many public appearances. As early as the 1990s, in footage released by Power Video Magazine, he openly preached about being drug-free. During his viral rise in the early 2010s, he continued to emphasize that he had never taken performance-enhancing drugs, which was highly controversial. He often referenced the fact that he competed in tested federations whenever possible.
However, in a later appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, several years after reaching peak fame, he admitted that he had in fact used steroids at some point around 1980–1981. According to his own account, the use lasted approximately six months, structured as two months on, two months off, and two months on, meaning the entire period spanned roughly one year. He stated that he felt deeply guilty about it, stopped using steroids, and never returned to them.
Over time, his descriptions of the extent and timing of his usage have varied, ranging from very limited use over a short period to more extensive use across multiple periods.
What can be stated with certainty is that he did use performance-enhancing drugs at some point in his life.
The McDonald’s Meals
C.T. also became infamous for his McDonald’s orders, which he consumed almost daily for many years as a post-workout meal. During his powerlifting days, his “bulk” diet reportedly included four Big Macs, four large fries, four personal apple pies, and two large milkshakes, totaling well over 5,000 calories.
He credited this extreme intake with fueling his strength, but also later acknowledged that it contributed to serious health issues, including open-heart surgery. Since then, he has completely changed his diet to prioritize health. Still, this legendary McDonald’s order remains one of the most extreme examples of mass-gaining tactics in strength sports history.
Bodybuilding
During the early 1980s, C.T. trained primarily for bodybuilding. Although he wanted to be big and strong, maximal strength was not yet his main focus. He competed in several bodybuilding shows up until 1982, when his focus gradually shifted toward powerlifting and the bench press.
After his heart surgery in 2005, C.T. once again changed the focus of his training. Not only had the medical complications cost him a significant amount of muscle mass, but carrying close to 136 kg / 300 lbs bodyweight was no longer sustainable from a health perspective. He began training primarily for health, functionality, and a muscular but more balanced physique.
Following his recovery, he competed in several bodybuilding shows in the 50+ age class, placing highly in multiple contests. However, as his popularity exploded in the early 2010s, competitive bodybuilding became less of a priority. His time, drive, and energy were better spent elsewhere, rather than committing to the extreme dieting required for competition.
Legacy
Regardless of personal opinion, C.T. Fletcher achieved something extraordinary. Something far greater than he ever expected. He grew up with a father who was far from kind, worked many years for the U.S. Postal Service, and lost his job and pension due to prolonged illness. He faced severe financial hardship, underwent multiple open-heart surgeries, and was declared clinically dead on the operating table twice.
That experience became part of his identity. The man who died twice and came back stronger.
By being unapologetically himself, he built a career and became one of the most recognizable figures in strength training for many years. While his peak fame may have been a decade ago, he remains a respected and influential figure and has appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience twice.ce twice.
Officiella sociala medier och kanaler
Instagram:
➡️ https://www.instagram.com/c.t.ali.fletcher/ — C.T. Fletcher’s officiella Instagram-profil med motivation, klipp och dagliga uppdateringar
X (tidigare Twitter):
➡️ https://x.com/CTFletcherISYMF — C.T. Fletcher’s officiella X-profil där han postar styrke- och motivationsinlägg
YouTube:
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/ctfletchermotivation — Officiell YouTube-kanal med träningsvideor och motivation från C.T. Fletcher
💡 Alternativ kanal äldre uploads: https://www.youtube.com/user/CTTheTrainer
Facebook:
➡️ https://www.facebook.com/CT.ISYMFS/ — Officiell Facebook-sida för C.T. Fletcher
C.Ts Best Competition Lift
+125 kg / +275 lbs class
Bench Press: 295 kg / 650 lbs Singel ply
Strict curl: 102 kg / 225 lbs
Training programs
If you are looking for strength training programs designed for limited time, you can find them in the Built Strong app. There are several programs where each workout is under 60 minutes or even shorter.
Many lifters have reached levels they had not previously achieved, despite training less. The key is not doing more, but training more effectively.
Get the Built Strong App Here!
