The UNC Rec Center is a place where all kinds of people gather under the same shared goal of physical fitness, such as the Barbell Club.
Founded in 2018, the club promoted itself as a place to compete, build strength, and learn more about weightlifting.
However, management issues from the club’s leaders caused it to disappear from the official club registry after 2022.
I was able to speak with Landen Anderson, the sophomore sports and exercise science major who decided to restart the club in his own image.
“I started working out when I was 12 years old, and I started powerlifting my junior year of high school." Anderson said.
He was drawn into the weightlifting community by the aspects of bodybuilding and strength training.
“Before I got to college, I remember I was touring UNC, and I saw that there was a Barbell Club, and I was like ‘oh sick, that’s something I want to be a part of.’” he said.
Unfortunately, the club fell through before Anderson was able to register, leaving him wanting an outlet for his powerlifting dreams.
“I really want to have this community here at UNC, I want to build something, and I want to share my love of lifting with other people.” Anderson said.
After restarting the club last year, Anderson is finding great success with reaching like minded students, growing the barbell club’s numbers.
He plans on working towards entering competitions in the next few years to truly bring the club back to where it used to be.
However, Anderson must balance a difficult course load of biomechanics and nutritional sciences, commitments to his fraternity as a brother and a safety officer, and now as president of the barbell club.
“I'm ok with that, honestly,” Anderson said. “It’s putting time into my passion and into something I care about.”
The people who join the Barbell Club motivate Anderson to be the best version of himself, and they never fail to cheer him up when he needs it.
“I want us to be a sanctuary for people to come and lift, to try it out and see how life changing, and how much fun you can have with it.” said Anderson.
