Male Powerlifters Are Scary (and so are powerlifting gyms)

We’re going to practice our imagery skills today as I walk you through a fun scenario.

I want you to imagine that you’re going into a small strength-training facility or powerlifting gym (like Rhino’s) for the first time.

As you walk in the door, you take a small sip of your energy drink and taste the citrus flavor you love. Sniffing, you smell rubber, sweat, and something that faintly reminds you of cat pee (gross, right?).

Your eyes are drawn to a pack of big, angry-looking men standing around a weird piece of equipment that looks like a squat rack on the roids.

Someone takes a sniff out of something in a bottle, and then you hear him grunt while the other guys yell at the top of their lungs. The air is slightly humid, and you’re starting to sweat just standing there.

Now stop and notice what you’re feeling. Maybe nervous, intimidated, or annoyed? Something else?

The Evidence it’s True (Based on ChatGPT's Powerlifting Gym list)

I started writing this blog with my little list of reasons women think male powerlifters are scary, and therefore, powerlifting gyms are also scary. I then asked ChatGPT if I missed anything. Typically, I just pick a couple, but this list was too good to pass up. So, here are my favorites:

• They travel in packs and scream at each other before lifting.

• Every conversation somehow becomes about deadlifts.

• They smell like ammonia (that’s the cat smell), beef jerky, and Tiger Balm.

• They stomp around in socks like they own the gym.

• They look angry even when they’re having fun.

• They communicate almost entirely through grunts and obscure memes.

• Their emotional support item is a lifting belt.

• They refer to normal workouts as “cardio nonsense.”

• Their pre-workout has enough caffeine to legally classify as a weapon.

• They’ll say “light weight” and then load six plates.

Except it’s Not True

ChatGPT somehow understood the assignment perfectly when it finished the list with these gems:

• They’re somehow both intimidating and giant golden retrievers.

• They adopt introverted gym newbies like stray cats.

• They yell at women to “GET IT” louder than anyone else in the gym.

• They look like they hate everyone, but will absolutely help you move furniture.

I’ve been powerlifting for over 10 years now and have owned two powerlifting gyms in that time, and I can confidently say that male powerlifters (and strongmen) are some of the most supportive and nicest people I know.

And the crazy part...it's true. Until you've been adopted by a "scary male powerlifter" into the strong crew, you just don't get it.

One Proof: Cincinnati Women’s Pro/Am Powerlifting Competition

I recently competed in the Final Cincinnati Women’s Pro/Am Powerlifting Meet, which is the LARGEST all-women’s meet in the USA, if not the world (I don’t have the hard data in front of me to make either claim, but it’s true).

I would have thought this competition would be pretty much just women, and maybe their husbands, in attendance… and I was very wrong. When you get a chance, look at all the people who tagged @2026womensproam in their photos and videos on Instagram. I want you to notice how many men were there. I want you to notice how many of the posts were of men supporting women.

Men at the Cincinatti Pro Am Powerlifting Meet supporting the women competitors

It wasn’t just the husbands attending…it was male coaches, male powerlifters, male spectators, male friends. Some of the strongest men in the world were there JUST TO SUPPORT the women lifting.

And it wasn’t only on the pro day; they were also there supporting the amateur women competitors with us much gusto as on pro day.

They were cheering us on from the crowd, coaching us in the warm-up area, and keeping us safe on the platform. They hugged us when we succeeded and consoled us when we failed.

Male spotters making sure I wasn't crushed. I could hear them cheering me on during the entire lift.

They were among the loudest voices in the room, cheering on these amazing women. And they weren’t asking for anyone to look at them; they made their entire day about the women competitors.

And they were SO PROUD OF US.

(I’m tearing up a little while writing this because it was such an amazing experience).

So you see, I can’t ever see male powerlifters as scary (and neither are powerlifting gyms)

My coach & husband after I hit my 300lb bench press at the Pro/Am. He was so proud of me.

I respect and enjoy my time around women powerlifters, but I adore the men who sit on the sidelines and cheer us on. Who tells us they hope we’re as strong as they are one day. Who laughs WITH me when I jokingly call their one-rep max my warm-up and then say to me, "I'm not surprised".

Don’t write off strength-training facilities and powerlifting gyms because you’re worried the big, scary men will laugh. You might be missing out on an amazing chance to meet your biggest supporters who will push you to be your best.

Because you see, strength sports like powerlifting and strongman are full of men who just want to see women be their strongest and best selves and aren’t threatened by strong women in the room.