Powerlifting/Strongman Gym in Downtown Seattle Todd's message is " at Seattle Strength and Power the emphasis is on powerlifting and strength training.
Led by 40+ years veteran of powerlifting competitions and world record holder Todd Christensen, Seattle Strength and Power is home to powerlifters and strength athletes competing at all levels, ages and in a variety of federations. I don't care if you lift 80 or 800lbs, as long as you show up and give it your best, that's all that I ask. If you are interested in pushing yourself to new limits, com
Bebe Burns wins her 9th World Championship yesterday in Seoul, South Korea. Bebe is 83 years old.
Bebe went 9 for 9 and set 4 World Records.
10/06/2025
SSP lifter Alma Kimura was featured in
1889 Washington’s Magazine. Alma will be competing October 10 in Cape Town, South Africa at the IPF Masters World Championships. Alma is a 4 time World Champion looking to win her 5th Title.
Go Alma!!!
05/06/2024
Seattle Strength and Power lifters Lynne and Molly compete at the 2024 USAPL Ladies of Iron Competition held in Puyallup, Wa.
Lynne Cooney went 8 for 9 and placed 1st in the Womens M3 Raw with Wraps 75kg Division. She set 4 new State Records in all the lifts and Total with a 77.5 kg Squat, 32.5kg Bench, 110kg Deadlift and Total with 220kgs. Great job Lynne!!
Molly Douce placed 1st in the Womens M3 Raw 90kg Division in both Full Powerlifting and Push/Pull. She broke all 4 State Records in Powerlifting and all in Push/Pull. Her lifts were 97.5kg Squat, 65kg Benchpress, 142.5kg Deadlift and 305kg Total. Overall Molly had the 2nd best Dots Score (at 375) of all the Masters Lifters (24 athletes). Awesome Molly!!
Photo below left to right: Molly, National Level Judge Paula Houston, Coach Todd Christensen, Lynne and State Level Judge Jeff Hughes.
12/11/2023
Seattle Strength and Power wins the 2023 USAPL Washington State Mixed Team Championship held in Puyallup, Wa.
The SSP Team, State Champions in 2022, defended their State Team Title recently with six 1st place finishes.
The Team included Alma Kimura placing 1st in the Womens M3 67.5kg Raw Division. Alma broke two American Records in the Squat with a top lift of 259lbs. Lillian Otani won the Womens M4 48kg Raw Division. Lynne Cooney won the Womens M3 75kg Raw/with wraps Division. Robert Harper placed 1st in the Mens M4 90kg Raw Division. Jeff Hughes won the Mens M4 82.5kg Equipped Division and set 6 new Washington State Records. Brian Iritani finished 1st in the Mens M3 67.5kg Raw Division. Brian had a great day and set 12 new Washington State Records.
The SSP Team has now won 3 out of the last 4 USAPL State Championships.
Great job to all the lifters and special thanks to Coach Rachele Killian and to Paula Houston for all your help during the meet!
Todd Christensen
10/12/2023
SSP lifters recently competed at the 2023 USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals held in Memphis, Tenn.
81 years young Bebe Burns won her 19th National Championship. She competed in the M5 52kg Division. Bebe set 3 American Records (Squat, Deadlift and Total). Great job Bebe!
Lillian Otani competed in the M4 48kg Division and placed 1st. This was Lillian's first Nationals. Lillian also set a new Washington State Record for the Total on the way to picking up the Gold Medal.
Molly Douce competed for the first time at Nationals in the M3 90kg Division and walked away National Champion! Molly also set 4 new Washington State Records (Squat, Bench, Deadlift and Total).
Kimmi Yamauchi competed in the M2 48kg Division and won the Silver Medal. Another Nationals Rookie, Kimmi Broke 3 Washington State Records (Squat, Bench and Total).
Veteran Robert Harper won the Silver Medal in the M4 90kg Division. This is Bob's 4th Silver Medal at Nationals (2018,2021,2022,2023). He won the Gold in 2019.
This was my 25th USA Powerlifting Nationals as a Coach. Memphis is one of the friendliest, best all around cities that I've been to for a Powerlifting meet. Looking forward to a few more of these and traveling with this great group of people. Great job SSP Team!!!
Seattle Strength & Power lifters; Bebe Burns, Jeff Hughes and Sarah Bohlen recently competed at the 2023 USAPL Open (Equipped) Nationals held in Dallas, Texas.
Bebe placed 1st and set 10 American Records in the M5 52kg Division. She is now an 18 time National Champion (16 Powerlifting, 2 Benchpress). You are now Officially the most decorated lifter in the 19+ year history of SSP. Congratulations Bebe, you are a Rock Star!!
Jeff placed 1st in the M4 82.5Kg Division and set a new American Record in the Deadlift with 207.5kgs (457lbs). Jeff had the highest overall total in the M4 Division with 457.5kgs (1008lbs). Winning the Gold Medal gives Jeff 3 National Championships in his career. Great job Jeff!!
Sarah went 9 for 9 and placed 1st in the M2 90kg. Division. Winning the Gold makes Sarah a 6 time National Champion (4 Powerlifting, 2 Benchpress). Great job Sarah!!
A Special Thank You goes out to SSP Assistant Coach Rachele Killian for her help at the meet.
I Hope to show more videos of the lifting soon.
Umar Abdullah hitting an off-season 551 Benchpress.
Pete Santie hits a 617lb Benchpress and Umar Abdullah hits a 551lb Benchpress. Pete will be competing June 10th at the 2023 USPA Powermania Contest held in Bremerton, Wa.
05/12/2023
The Seattle Strength and Power Team recently competed in the USAPL 2023 United Ladies of Iron Powerlifting Championships held in Puyallup, Wa. and won the Overall Team Award.
Left to right: Sarah Bohlen, John Buck, Molly Douce, Coach Franklin Easton, Ana North, Hannah Burkhardt, Lillian Otani, Coach Todd Christensen, Sarah Steen, Alma Kimura, Lianna Yang, Lynne Cooney, Paula Houston, Coach Rachele Killian, (missing Kimmi Yamauchi, Alanna Hart, Landon James and Jeff Hughes)
SSP had 9 lifters competing. Molly, Lillian, Sarah, Alma and Kimmi placed 1st in their divisions. Ana and Lynne placed 2nd. Hannah placed 4th and first time competitor Alanna Hart was 7th.
Highlights include: Molly breaking 4 State Records, Kimmi breaking 4 State Records, Lillian breaking 3 State Records and Alma breaking 4 State Records and one American Record. Alma also tied another American Record and set a new Unofficial World Record in the squat. "Rock Star Alma" also won the Masters Best Lifter Award (1st out of 30 lifters)!
A Giant thank you goes out to Rachele, Franklin and Paula for all their awesome coaching and to Jeff Hughes for help in the warmup room, couldn't do this meet without you guys!!
01/11/2023
01/11/2023
SSP Coach Rachele Killian wins at WABDL Worlds and then a month later at Strongman Corp. Masters Nationals!!!
In November Rachele traveled to Reno, Nevada for the 2022 WABDL World Championships. She walked away a 3 time World Champion. Rachele placed 1st in the 148lb, 47-53 age group with a 203lb Benchpress in the Single ply Division; she then placed 1st in the 148lb, 47-53 Deadlift Single ply Division with a 314lb pull and finally 1st in the Push Pull Division with a Total of 517lbs.
Rachele now has 7 WABDL World Championship Titles.
A month later Rachele dropped 8lbs to make weight at Strongman Corp. Masters Nationals held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
She competed in the 50+ Womens Lightweight Division (140lbs and under) and placed 1st. This was Rachele's first Strongman Nationals. When asked what's next for Rachele, she repied "I might compete in Bodybuilding or do a Figure contest." She does have some competitive bodybuilding experience, placing 3rd in the Emerald Cup Open Middlewt. Division back in 2008. Great job Rachele and Good Luck with your next contest!!!