by Wendy Hou-Seye

Valentino Harris just started lifting in NASA, in Wisconsin, in 2009.  However, not only has his lifting been noticed, but he has been drug tested, including an out-of-meet test that Job drove to Milwaukee to conduct.  He was one of our Wisconsin lifters to compete in the 2010 NASA PRO Power Sports meet, which is why we selected him to be interviewed as our featured Wisconsin lifter in December.

Wendy: When  did you get started in lifting and what was your motivation to become a lifter?    Valentino: I started lifting in high school because my high school football coach instilled it in me. He taught me that lifting teaches you self-respect and discpline.  My motivation is becoming a stronger young man and to teach others self-respect through excerise.     Wendy: How is your training different for each meet? Valentino: My training is always different in order to bring up my weak points to improve my lifts. I always train my weakest muscles to bring up my coefficient.   Wendy: Do you have anybody that you consider to be a lifting mentor or somebody who motivates you? Valentino: I have a few lifting mentors including my close friend Sean who trains with me often. He is very strong and he always pushes me. My mom also motivates me by helping me to improve in powerlifting and also in  bodybuilding . Plus she feeds me a lot.  I also have another "friend," and she motivates me by keeping me humble no matter how many powerlifting or  bodybuilding competitions I win. She does this by matching every pound I can lift, and trophies I have, with her beauty and personality.    Wendy: Where do you like to train and why? Valentino: I train at the Animal House Gym. It is the best gym in Milwaukee and in my opinion the best in the Midwest. It is a good place with a great owner who was a bodybuilder and he gives me good advice. He also gives me tips and helps me with my not so strong points. I would say anyone who trains hard and needs a great gym should train at the Animal House.   Wendy: Is there a retired lifter, or somebody who is still lifting, who you consider to be your idol? Valentino: There are a few I listen to.  Asher he's a powerlifter and he gives me good advice. He especially helps me with my deadlifts. I listen to Heath.  Heath is a strongman. He teaches me techniques. He also teaches me speed. I also listen to Tony. He is a bodybuilder. He helps me with my diet and posing. They are all trainers at the Animal House Gym.   Wendy: How has being a strength athlete affected your personal life ? Valentino: It has taught me self-respect and discipline. It also taught me gym lifts are completely different from competition lifts.  You have to take your time and be focused.   Wendy: What are your personal goals over the next year or two?   Valentino: My personal Goal is to be the overall pro winner. I also want to win my pro body building card while being a pro power lifter.   Wendy: What is your favorite lifting event(curls, squat, benchpress, deadlift)? Valentino: My favorite lifts is the deadlift because it is my not so strong muscles. I was taught you are only as strong as your weakest muscle. So I have been training the deadlift more intensely.  I'm up to 405 for 3 sets of 15.   Wendy: What are your personal bests in the gym and your personal bests in a meet? Valentino: I benched 455 lbs in the gym and 424 lbs in a meet. I curled 225 in the gym. I curled 204 in a meet . I deadlifted 540 lbs in a meet and 500 for 3 in the gym.   Wendy: Where has been your favorite place to travel to, and compete, in a meet? Valentino: I enjoyed traveling to Oklahoma's Pro meet . My big brother lives there and it also had the most amount of competitors.  That really pushed me.   Wendy: What is your philosophy on training or where do you get your training tips? Valentino: The Animal House gym owner told me there is no best, only your best . If somebody beats you, then you still did your personal best, you won . So I take that thought with me every time I train. So I train hard everyday, so that when its competition time, I can try to do my personal best.    Wendy: Currently, do you have "rival" lifter who you would like to defeat on the platform? Valentino: I dont have a rival . I just want to do my best. I was taught there is no best or #1.  There is only "your" best . So I do my best and  I train hard, yet, I do want to win . So I have to try and beat everybody.   Wendy: What is your opinion of the recent PRO Meet? Valentino: I thought it was great!  There were a lot of great competitors. It really pushed me to do my best.   Wendy: If there is a 2011 PRO Meet, do you plan to compete again? Valentino: Yes, of course.   Wendy: The NASA Leadership has suggested that the PRO Meet could be improved, and the prize money increased, if every PRO Lifter from this year's PRO Meet would enlist 3 Lifters from back home to buy PRO Cards.  What do you think of this idea? Valentino: I think it is a good idea to help expand.

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