Frederick C. Hatfield (October 21, 1942 – May 14, 2017), nicknamed Dr. Squat, was an American world champion powerlifter and PhD holder in sports sciences.[3][4] He was also the co-founder and president of the International Sports Sciences Association,[5] an organization of fitness experts which certifies personal fitness trainers from around the world. He went on to make the ICOPRO bodybuilding protein and supplements for Vince McMahon's World Bodybuilding Federation. After the promotion folded, McMahon continued to market the product until 1995.
Hatfield held positions at Newark State College, Bowie State University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He taught undergraduate students, and conducted research in sport psychology. He has written over 60 books, some of them best-sellers.[7] His best-selling seminal work Bodybuilding:A Scientific Approach set the standard for many fitness books today. He wrote hundreds of academic and fitness articles which have been cited by experts, including Anabolic Steroids expert James Wright.[8]
He trained hundreds of professional athletes including Mr. Olympia winner Lee Haney, Evander Holyfield, and Lyle Alzado.[9]
He was diagnosed with metastatic skeletal cancer in 2012 and was advised by 3 doctors that he had 3 months to live. However, he told CBN News that he had tried to slow progression with a ketogenic diet and the cancer went away completely.[10]
He was inducted in the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2016.[11]
Hatfield died May 14, 2017 from sudden heart failure at age 74.[12]
Accomplishments in powerlifting
As a powerlifter, Hatfield won 2 IPF World Powerlifting Championships titles in 1983 and 1986.[5] At the age of 45, he set a squat world record by lifting 1,014 pounds (460 kg) in the 125 kg (276 lb) weight class, which at the time was the heaviest squat in history regardless of bodyweight.[7] He weighed 255 lbs.
