Rickey Dale Crain was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 18, 1953. He started training at an early age, and his family was, and became even more, known for lifting iron. Rickey went on to become one of the greatest powerlifters of all time, with many impressive performances to back that up.
At just 13 years old, he was already squatting 90 kg (198 lbs), and by 17 he was squatting over 180 kg (397 lbs). Keep in mind that Rickey was never a big guy. He stood a little over 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) tall and weighed around 60 kg (132 lbs) at that age.
He established himself in the 67.5 kg (149 lbs) and 75 kg (165 lbs) weight classes during the 1970s. In 1976, he took a major step forward by winning both the Pan American Championships and the U.S. Nationals. Competing in the 67.5 kg class, he totaled 677.8 kg (1,495 lbs) using little to no supportive equipment, just a belt and basic knee wraps.
He was the favorite to win the World Championship that same year, competing in the 75 kg class, but bombed out in the deadlift after pushing too hard. Instead, Bill West from Great Britain took the win with 677.5 kg (1,494 lbs). Bill would go on to remain among the top contenders in many championships thereafter as well.
It took a few more years before Rickey reached the World Championships again, but when he did in 1980, he won. That year, he totaled 730 kg (1,609 lbs) in the 67.5 kg class, now wearing one of the first generations of squat suits. Rickey became synonymous with the squat suit and powerlifting gear in general after founding Crain’s Muscle World, which grew to be one of the largest powerlifting equipment companies in the world.
Beyond that, he owned gyms and coached many lifters. Rickey was deeply focused on technique. He might not always have been the physically strongest lifter, but he was strongest when it mattered most in the squat, bench press, and deadlift. This led to numerous world records, both with and without supportive gear. Rickey won every World Championship he entered from 1980 until 1987 in Norway, where he placed second with one of his lower totals in years, 750 kg (1,653 lbs).
In 1996, Rickey became the lightest man ever to squat 800 lbs (363 kg) at 43 years old, competing in the 75 kg class. That year, his lift ranked as the 87th heaviest squat in the world, regardless of federation or weight class.
To reach those numbers and maintain longevity in the sport, Rickey devoted himself to mastering the art of lifting. Of course, training methods, equipment, and the use of performance-enhancing substances all played a role in those massive lifts of the 1990s, but style, execution, and technical mastery transcend all that. His approach remains inspiring and educational for lifters of any era.
Rickey broke down the lift into “Form, Style, and Technique.”
These terms are often used interchangeably, but Rickey distinguished between them.
- Form refers to execution, maintaining proper movement regardless of your chosen style or technique.
- Style is more about appearance, how your lifts look based on your body proportions and stance. For example, in the deadlift, your style might be sumo or conventional, but the technique and execution can still be equally sound.
- Technique is the method or approach, how you initiate and perform the lift. Do you start smoothly, building tightness throughout your body, or do you yank the bar off the floor? Those are two different techniques. Regardless of style, maintaining good form is key. The lifter who yanks the bar often loses position and control.
These three principles are incredibly useful when analyzing and improving your lifts. Two lifters can share the same technique but differ in style, and two lifters with the same style may not execute with the same level of form.
Rickeys Best Official lifts:
Belt and Bandage
Class -67.5 kg / 148 lbs
- Squat: 256 kg / 564 lbs (1976)
- Bench Press: 152.5 kg / 336 lbs (1980)
- Deadlift: 274.5 kg / 605 lbs (1976)
- Total: 677.8 kg / 1,494 lbs (1976)
Single Ply
Class -67.5 kg / 148 lbs
- Squat: 285 kg / 628 lbs (1980)
- Bench Press: 152.5 kg / 336 lbs RAW (1980)
- Deadlift: 300 kg / 661 lbs (1980)
- Total: 730 kg / 1,609 lbs (1980)
Single Ply
Class -75 kg / 165 lbs
- Squat: 285 kg / 628 lbs (1980)
- Bench Press: 188.2 kg / 415 lbs (1988)
- Deadlift: 325 kg / 716 lbs (1983)
- Total: 825 kg / 1,819 lbs (1988)
Single Ply
Class -82.5 kg / 181 lbs
- Squat: 345 kg / 760 lbs (1987)
- Bench Press: 204.1 kg / 450 lbs (1996)
- Deadlift: 332.5 kg / 733 lbs (1983)
- Total: 825 kg / 1,819 lbs (1987)
Multi Ply
Class 75 kg / 165 lbs
- Squat: 362.8 kg / 800 lbs (1996)
- Bench Press: 195 kg / 430 lbs (1996)
- Deadlift: 300 kg / 661 lbs (1995)
- Total: 857.6 kg / 1,891 lbs (1996)
Multi Ply
Class -82.5 kg / 181 lbs
- Bench Press: 195 kg / 430 lbs (1996)
You can read more about supportive powerlifting gear here.
Here’s a video of Rickey himself squatting and discussing these technical aspects in detail.