Powerlifter sets good example, and 3 world records

Publicized by Gannett Westchester Newspapers.


Dr. Ritchi Morris is a good example of how a powerlifter can be successful without using steroids.
The Ardsley resident and director of Vital Quests Associates for Health and Performance Improvement won the light heavyweight class (220 pounds) in both the Open and Masters (35 and up) Divisions and set three world records in the process at the recent World Natural Powerlifting Federation's (WNPF) U.S.A. Championships.
His world records came in the squat, bench press and total score.
This drug-free meet was different from most powerlifting competitions throughout the world. Other competitions use random drug testing, which tests about 7 to 10 percent of the powerlifters for any illegal substances (i.e. steroids). Before competing, everyone in this meet was tested by polygraph, urine sample or both. Those who set recoreds are retested.
Morris lifted 660 pounds in the squat, which was 105 pounds more than the previous record. In his 420-poound record-setting lift on the bench press, he broke his own mark of 370 pounds. Morris' total score of 1,646 pounds produced a third record that included tallies of the deadlift, squat and bench press.
Morris has known for a long time that he was destined to be at the top.
"I've been mentally programmed for years and years that I wanted to be a champ. Ths's what kept me going." said Morris, who started lifting in his late-teenage years because he wasn't a big kid and was also getting involved the wports at school.
Morris competes in "natural" powerlifting meets because he as been against athletes using steroids every since he stopped them many years ago. He had started to use the drug when he first began lifting. He admits that the drug did make him stronger, but he had started to gain too much weight and couldn't make 190-pound weight class at the time.
Although he never suffered from any of the side effects from steroids, he now teaches his patients all the negative effects they have and tries to get them to stop using them. He started using them with the same intentions that any other powerlifting competitor has nowadays, but then realized they were giving him a false sense of confidence. "I took them for the same promise that any kid today does," he said. "When I won a trophy, I'd say, 'You didn't win this, chemistry won this.'"
As well as being known for his athletic accomplishments, Morris also has his share of academic honors. He holds doctorate degrees in clinical psychology, clinical nutrition (naturopathy) and the most recent , in holistic wellness therapy, which he receved the day before he took part in this competition.
Morris believes the the mental aspect of powerlifting is far more important than the physical aspect.
"Mental programming is 80 to 85 percent of it," he said, "Each workout I have to be mentally ready. I do astro-projections, I imagine myself lifting the weight, then bringing it down. The crowed doesn't see it, I see it."
As a poiwerlifter, Morris deals with defeat without dwelling on it. He uses it to his advantage.
"I feel if I'm not hurt, I'm fortunate for two reasons," he said. "One, I didn't get hurt and two, it gives me date I can look at for reasearch and I can correct my mistake. Instead of dwelling on the fact that I blew it, I take those facts and anylize them. The next time I make sure it doesnt' happern.
"This is the kind of attitude that separates a winner and a loser."