The Most Powerful Man in Polyethylene is at it again.
Mike Burns, vice president of PE markets for consulting firm Resin Technology Inc., recently won a gold medal at the USAPL National Drug Free Powerlifting Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Medalists in the late June event were based on the combined weight of each lifter's best squat, bench press and deadlift. Burns finished with a 419-pound squat, 386-pound bench and a 523-pound deadlift for a total of 1,328 pounds.
With the win, Burns earned a spot on the USA National Team for the International Powerlifting Federation World Championship. That event will take place in Sweden in September. Burns is also head bench press coach for the USA National Team, which will be competing in Costa Rica in October.
Burns told Plastics News that the achievement was special for him because he had a full hip replacement in December 2018. Burns added that he attributes his training knowledge and patience for his comeback.
Burns has competed in powerlifting events almost every year since 1983. He's won several medals during his career, including gold at the 2016 IPF World Bench Press Championship, which was held in South Africa.