Serge Reding has for a long time been on the list of the ten strongest heavyweights in the world. In May of 1970 he collected a sum total of 1322 pounds (600kg) in the three exercises.
In his childhood, Serge took great interest in swimming and gymnastics, but these activities increased his own bodyweight so that he was not fitted for these sports. A trainer advised Reding to turn to the sport of weightlifting.
In 1959 (when he was 18 years old) Reding became a weightlifter. His 1st total in weightlifting was a result of 507 pounds (230kg).
In the following year at the Championships of Belgium he got fourth place in the middleheavyweight class with a result of 694 pounds (315kg). In 1962 he totaled 1008lb (457kg); in 1964 he made 1069 pounds (485kg) and in 1965 Reding joined the “Five Hundred Club” which at that time was a big achievement.
Reding’s weight at this time was already 255 pounds (116kg)
In time he registered world class results. Reding has regularly held prize winning places at the World and European Championships.
At the Olypmic Games in Mexico he was second to Zhabotinsky, and here two years later Reding became the second “600” in the world. In an interview with a c orrespondent of the newspaper “Le Sport” the weightlifter said:
“This 600 kilograms was the aim and goal of my sport career. It seems like just a short time ago that I broke the 500 kilogram barrier. At that time I was the seventeenth person in the world to make this. After the lapse of five years. I added 100 kilograms to my total. I have a lot of confidence that the 700 kilogram barrier will be overcome in the not too distant future. Remember that when the American Paul Anderson collected a sum total of 500 kilograms this was considered nothing short of a miracle.
Now, 500 kilograms is a common, down-to-earth total.”
Serge Reding Workout Routine
Reding generally trained in the evening for about three hours. He was especially serious about mastering the snatch.
Sportsmen have become accustomed to him performing this exercise with a “scissors”, but with time ideas of the advantages of the “scissors” differ. In his training practice Reding included an element of gymnastics. It is notable that Reding, who possesses big, muscular muscles, is not any less reactive or flexible, even though he is large. Without a doubt, his flexibility and suppleness reduced the risk of a torn ligament or tendon.
In the period of training for competition, Reding trained five times per week: three are occupied with an intensive program and two are light.
In training, as a rule, he included squatting with a weight of 573 pounds (260kg) for 5 times (maximum is 705lb or 329kg); presses while lying down 374lb (170kg) for 5 times (maximum is 440lb or 200kg); presses on incline bench 352lb or 160kg for 5 times (maximum is 396lb or 180kg); press from behind neck 286lb or 130kg (maximum is 352lb or 160kg); he squats with the weight on the chest with 617lb or 280kg, he deadlifts 772lb or 350kg.
Besides this, Reding spends much time working on the separate movements which make up the Olympic lifts with the assistance of isomtric exercise.
In the first week Reding worked with weights which constituted 80% of his maximum weights, and in the second week lifted 90-95 per cent of maximum weights. Just before competition he used a light program with much variety and spontancity included. His training also included sprint of 40-60 yards.
Reding used to run the 100 meters in 13 seconds.
Reding’s friend watches his training with extreme zeal and diligence and often joked by saying: “I will lift the king’s library.”
Reding used to get up early in the morning at 6:30 a.m., even though his work does not start until 9 o#clock. He went to bet at 11 to 11:30 p.m. and often slept less than 8 hours.
Serge is very enthusiastic about his work as a librarian because it allows him to satisfy his passion for reading.
His appetite was not exceptional for a weightlifter; he used to eat 2-3 times more than the average person. The National Olympic Committee of Belgium regularly allotted him a money allowance which helped him to overcome the problem of nourishment.