Duane Hagstrom has been strength training since he was just 9 years of age. Although he was training at a young age, it was not until Duane was in his 30s that he started competing in professional competitions. Hagstrom has competed in every aspect of strength sports including strongman, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding. Olympic weightlifting is what he is most passionate about.

(Duane Hagstrom stands with Tavares High Schools Trey Hanson who competed in this years weightlifting State Championships in Lakeland.)

I asked Duane how it felt to be inducted into the Florida Strength and Power Hall of Fame and he said “I am completely in shock that my name is now included with some of the strongest people to ever walk the planet. It is an honor to be included.”

Hagstrom has competed in over 50 competitions over a 15 year-span including 8 State Championships and 6 National/American Championships. He has been coaching high school weightlifting since 1996 and was inspired to start competing by the athletes who he coached.

(Duane Hagstrom poses with wife Nikki Hagstrom.)

His list of accomplishments is extensive. He is one of the all-time greatest strength coaches that Lake & Sumter County has ever witnessed. Be it competing in events or coaching teams, Hagstrom just has the natural talent to push his body to the edge.

Nikki Hagstrom is also a powerlifter and has had massive success.

Hagstrom’s wife Nikki Hagstrom is also a powerlifter and has found success. She was the 2021 NPC Mid Florida Classic Women’s Bodybuilding and Physique Winner. She worked with the Eustis Police Department and is currently the Senior Manager Law Enforcement Relations At Aftermath Services LLC.

(Nikki Hagstrom is also a power lifter. She has won multiple state competitions the past five years.)

Both complement one another and they push each other to be the best they can be. Duane says “My wife started off as a body builder and I would have her do powerlifting in the off season to put on size. We realized pretty quickly that the powerlifting path was better suited for her. In just 5 years she has broken multiple state, national and world records and has been chosen to represent the USA for the USPA World Team.”

Looking at your career what stands out the most?

“I got a really late start as a competitive lifter. I did not start until I was 34 years old. The individual championships, records and accolades don’t mean as much to me as the things I have accomplished as a coach. I live through my athletes and watching them succeed is much more fulfilling to me.” Duane Hagstrom is the coach at Flagler Palm Coast High School and the team always competes for championships every year.

(Duane Hagstrom middle stands with members of the Flagler Palm Coast Weightlifting team when they competed at the State Championships in Lakeland earlier this year.)

What is your advice to young kids wanting to become powerlifters?

“I would tell young kids that you need to find a coach that knows the sport and has a focus on technique. This sport can be very dangerous for those that don’t do things the right way. If you are fortunate enough to find a good coach, Trust the Process and do exactly what the coach tells you to do, even if you don’t understand the why behind it.” I also got a chance to aske coach Hagstrom what comes next? He says “As far as me as a competitor I don’t have anything left to prove. As a coach the only thing left that I want to accomplish before I retire is to win an FHSAA State Championship with my girls team.

(Duane Hagstrom shows off the FPC State Championship Ring.)

We think that is a great goal and hopefully the girls team is able to find their way to a State Championship before too long! Congratulations to Duane Hagstrom on his induction to the Florida Strength and Power Hall of Fame!

List of Duane Hagstrom World Records, State Records and Coaching Records

Hagstrom has many records which include a few World Records. He holds the 100% Raw World Record Strict Curl 45-49 (275lb Class) 100% Raw World Record Strict Curl 45-49 (308lb Class) He also owns other records such as 2010 FWF Best Master Lifter Masters 105+ State Record Snatch 116 kilos (Current Record) Broke multiple snatch and C&J records that are no longer current 2010 American Masters Best Lifter 35-39 Southern Powerlifting State Records in Single Ply Bench (510 lbs), Deadlift (550 lbs), & Total (1060 lbs) Masters 40-44 (275 lb class) Southern Powerlifting World Records in Single Ply Bench (510 lbs), Deadlift (550 lbs), & Total (1060 lbs) Masters 40-44 (275 lb class) 100% Raw State Record Strict Curl Open (275 lb Class) 100% Raw State Record Strict Curl Open (308 lb Class) 100% Raw State Record Strict Curl 45-49 (275 lb Class) 100% Raw State Record Strict Curl 45-49 (308 lb Class)

(Duane Hagstrom during his competition years. He does not compete as much anymore but focuses more on coaching these days.)

As far as Hagstroms coaching accomplishments they include FHSAA, USAW, & Powerlifting (Team & Individual) 11 – Conference Championships 6 – District Championships 3 – Regional Championships 1 – TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 14 – Top 10 State Finishes 71 – Conference Champions 74 – District Champions 33 – Regional Champions 151 – State Qualifiers 58 – State Medalists 37 – State Champions 4 – National Champions 20 – World Records 7- National Records 29 – State Records 8 x Coach of the Year 3 x FACA STATE CLINIC SPEAKER (2016, 2021, 2022