World Powerlifting Championships

Recruit Sustainment Soldier advances to world championships in powerlifting

Staff reports

CARSON CITY – After placing second in the Powerlifting America Classic Junior and Master Nationals meet in early June, Nevada Army Guard Sgt. Peyton Johnson is preparing for the Powerlifting America World Championships in Romania in September. Johnson just missed out on a national championship in the 205-pound division at the meet in Arizona with his total of 1791 pounds lifted; Shane Nutt of Indiana lifted 1803 pounds to edge out Johnson.

Johnson, 23, is a cadre Soldier in the Recruit Sustainment Program and he also works full-time for the Nevada Guard as a network communications systems specialist. He has been in the Nevada Army Guard since 2018. Earlier in his career, Johnson was in the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion and he participated in the battalion’s international deployment to Kuwait in 2020.

Johnson’s total lifted weight of 1791 pounds for three events including squat, bench and deadlift was his personal record. His personal records in each individual event are: 661 pounds in the squat; 374 pounds in the bend; and 755 pounds for the deadlift. Since March 2020, Johnson has improved by more than 500 pounds in his three-event total.

In Romania, Johnson will aim for a 672-pound squat, a 385-pound bench and 804-pound deadlift: that would give him a total of 1861 pounds and a new personal record.

Johnson began lifting in high school and was inspired by lifters on social media. He was also a football player and represented his school in county-wide weightlifting competitions.

“I really enjoyed it and loved working to constantly improve and see my progress – I was hooked,” Johnson said. “Seeing my improvement overall is really motivating.

“On top of that, lifting is always there for me. I can have a bad day but I can always count on having that reward of a good lift.”

In the future, Johnson aims to compete in the open class of powerlifting.

“I’d be going against people with more experience but I’m up for the challenge,” Johnson said. “I also want to help others with their fitness goals because of how much lifting has changed my life. I think it can change other lives, too.”