Mike Hall

In 2019, Hall was referenced in TieBreaker's Homegrown Talent: Every State's Greatest Athlete for Delaware

In 2013, Hall suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Nanticoke Hospital.

He became the first ADFPA drug-free lifter in powerlifting history under drug tested conditions to bench press over 600 pounds, squat over 900 pounds and break the 2000, 2100, 2200 and 2300 pounds total without the use of anabolic steroids”. Hall, who claims God as his coach, is known as the "World’s Strongest Drug-Free Man". He has been highly decorated as one of the leading anti-drug role models in the United States. In 1992 he appeared on a poster titled Natural Power, which is part of a campaign by the National Federation of High Schools to combat steroid and drug use. The posters were sent to 20,000 schools in the United States, reaching 11 million students.

In 1990, then-Delaware Senator Joe Biden, proposed key legislation to address steroid use among athletes and student-athletes. Biden authorized legislation to make steroids a Schedule II substance drug. Biden stated Hall was an example of how an athlete does not have to use steroids to be a champion. He said, “ Mike Hall holds the current record of the most weight lifted by a drug-free lifter, a record he is proud to share with young athletes who think they need steroids to become a champion. I am proud of Mike Hall who is a native of Delaware.”

At the 1987 IPF World Championship in Oslo, Norway, Hall took second place behind Sweden’s Lars Noren, with a 2210lbs (1004.5) total. In addition, Hall became the first American lifter to officially squat 900lbs (409kg) and total 2200lbs at a drug tested IPF World Powerlifting competition. On October 25, 1988, in San Diego California, Hall made history by competing at the first World Corporate Games and winning the Gold with a 2160lbs (982kg) total. In 1989, at the ADFPA Lifetime Drug-Free Nationals in Tempe, Arizona, Hall spoke to 8000 kids during a “Say No to Drugs” seminar and lifting exhibition. While squatting at the exhibition, Hall injured his hand returning the bar back in the rack. Hall placed first while posting the highest drug tested total 2336.9lbs (1062kg) ever lifted by an American Superheavyweight lifter during that time. At the 1989 IPF World Championships in Canada, despite serious injuries Hall won the 1989 IPF World Championships with a 2099lbs total. Mike Lambert, editor of Powerlifting USA Magazine quoted, "Few people realized the intensity of Mike's effort to win the super heavy title at the fantastic IPF Worlds in Canada. Hall prayed, and he felt no pain until after the 705lbs deadlift he needed was successfully completed. At the 1990 World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation World Championships in Meaux, France, Hall took first place and set a new WDFPF world bench press of 529lbs (240.4kg). In 1991, Hall known as the World’s Strongest Drug-free Man retired from the lifting platform.

Hall succeeded in setting numerous American Drug Free Powerlifting Association (ADFPA), American and National records in all three lifts, as well as the total. In addition, he won both the ADFPA and United States Powerlifting Federation (USPF) nationals several times during the same year. He was also the first superheavyweight lifter to win both the IPF and the WDFPF World Championships. At the 1987 IPF World Championships, Hall officially became the first American lifter to squat 900lbs (409kg) and break the 2200lbs (1000kg) total under drug tested conditions.

In April of 1986, Hall won the super heavyweight division in the ADFPA North American Powerlifting competition in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He squatted 905lbs missing 940lbs twice. He totaled 2250lbs and became the first ADFPA lifter in history to officially bench press 600lbs (272.7kg) drug-free. In the 1988 Boys Life Magazine, Dennis Brady, the president of the American Drug-free Powerlifting Association at that time quoted, "Mike Hall is an unusual drug-free lifter, and He’s able to compete with anyone”. Hall continued his lifting journey by winning first place at the United States Powerlifting Federation National Powerlifting (USPF) in 1986, 1987, 1989 and the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association (ADFPA) in 1986, and 1989.

In November 1986, Hall entered his first International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Championships in the Netherlands, the Hague. He won his first gold with a 2160lb (981.8kg) total. At the 1986 IPF World Championships, Hall registered the highest SHW total since IPF began drug testing in 1982.

On July 6, 1985, Hall participated in his first United States Powerlifting Federation's National Powerlifting Championships in Chicago, Illinois and took 3rd place in the Superheavyweight (SHW) division behind the great Doyle Kenady and George Hector. Hall posted a 2171.5lbs (987kg) total. Two weeks later, on July 20th Hall took 1st place at the 1985 ADFPA Nationals in Wilks Barre, Pa. His winning 2160lbs (981kg) total became the first 2100lb total in ADFPA history. Powerlifting USA Magazine stated, "Lifting this often and doing well is quite a challenge for a big man". Hall attempted the first 600lbs bench in ADFPA history on a fourth attempt and was good for 2300lbs total. In November of 1985, Hall competed at the ADFPA Longhorn Open/Collegiate Powerlifting competition held by Dr. Terry and Jan Todd in Austin, Texas and shocked the powerlifting world by posting the highest total in history lifted by a drug-tested lifter. A record-breaking 2303lbs (1046.8kg). His lifts consisted of 925lbs (420kg) squat w/wraps, 584lbs (265kg) raw bench press and a 793lbs (360kg) raw deadlift. He officially became the first lifter in ADFPA history and the first man to break the 2200 and 2300-pound barrier without the aid of Anabolic steroids.

Hall arrived on the National scene with the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Association (ADFPA) in 1983. He won the 2nd place in his first Nationals at the ADFPA Nationals in Allentown, Pa. with 1862lbs (846kg) total while setting a National and American record in the deadlift. The following year, he took 1ST place at the 1984 ADFPA Nationals setting an American and National record in the deadlift 722lbs (328kg) and total 2033lbs (924kg). Hall officially became the first ADFPA drug-free lifter to break the 2000lbs total barrier at a National competition.

During the mid-1970s, Hall became the all-marine Heavyweight-Powerlifting Champion several times. He was considered as one of the strongest marines in his time.

Michael Hall (born October 3, 1956) is a retired American powerlifter, who is perhaps best known for being a pioneer of the drug-free movement in powerlifting. Hall is considered the first African American Super Heavyweight powerlifter to win a World Powerlifting Championship.