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We sit down with USS Strongman owner Willie Wessels and get the behind-the-scenes truth about what it takes to build a fair federation, run better contests, and keep masters athletes competing longer. Willie shares how community and service keep the sport alive, plus a raw survival story from his leukemia diagnosis that reframes what “no excuses” really means.
• Willie’s path from a sports-obsessed kid to leading USS Strongman
• How benefit shows like Love Like Ben raise real money and build real community
• What Willie actually does when he travels to events, from media to judging
• Why consistent national judging matters for records and trust
• The reality of chemo, fatigue, and rebuilding strength from zero
• How masters divisions and weight classes make the sport more sustainable
• Why efficient show flow, enough staff, and taking care of loaders changes everything
• Best advice for masters athletes, recovery first and compete against yourself
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