Realizing that his young life was at a crossroads, Derek boarded a bus to Connecticut and moved in with his mother. He continued to pursue his passion for weight training while working hard at menial jobs. Sadly, Derek quickly began to fall into the same pattern of drinking and hanging out with the wrong crowd. It was at this time that a life-altering event occured; his father was involved in a serious automobile accident, which ultimately took his life on February 13, 2000. Derek, seeing the damage that alcohol had done to his family, pledged to change his ways. He completed his studies and earned a GED certificate. Soon after, his life would change forever when he caught the eye of Powerlifting Champion Dave Petro-Roy while working out at a local gym in Waterbury, Connecticut. Petro-Roy took an interest in Derek, convincing him that he’d been blessed with a gift. They began training together, and after attending his first Powerlifting show, Derek was hooked. Upon entering his first Powerlifting contest, Derek broke three Heavyweight records in his age group.

After winning most every Powerlifting contest he entered and setting four more records, Derek set his sights on the sport of Strongman. Standing “only” 6'1", Derek often gave up almost a half-foot in height and 50 pounds in weight to his much larger competition, yet was able to earn his Pro Card and began competing in events. It was at this time that he received a call from the Naugatuck, Connecticut Police Department, where he’d recently submitted an application. He’d always dreamed of becoming a Police Officer, and now that chance had arrived. With some misgiving, Derek left the Strongman sport and applied his focus on becoming the best Police Officer he could be.

Throughout his apprenticeship as a Police Officer, Derek continued weight training and in 2006 decided to return to the sport of Strongman. While training, Derek suffered a devastating back injury, rupturing two discs in his back and suffering a hematoma on his spinal cord. His neuron-surgeon told him that his weightlifting career was over, that by continuing to train for his sport he’d be risking paralysis. Always looking to overcome hurdles, Poundstone began training once again in a manner he had devised to make his new found weakness a strength. Exactly 7 months to the day in which he suffered the injury that was said to be career ending, Poundstone captured the title of America’s Strongest Man!

Derek has won 5 major Strongman Titles, including Fortssimus, The Arnold Schwarzennegger Classic, The Worlds Strongest Man Super Series and in 2009 defended his title as Americas Strongest Man. Derek has entered 26 Strongman Competitions to date and has finished in the Top 3 an amazing 21 times while suffering through a series of injuries including a torn pectoralis, a deep metatarsal contusion and a torn triceps.

In order to maintain the peak physical condition necessary to perform at the highest levels of the Strongman sport, Derek spends an average of 15 hours per week in the gym, this in addition to serving the public as a full-time Police Officer. Clearly, time-management is also something at which Derek excels. He also finds time in his schedule to serve as a Motivational Speaker. Drawing on his life experiences, Derek is able to relate to the Fortune 500 Executive, the school student, the stay-at-home Mom and the elderly, using his many life experiences to relate to groups and individuals that mental and physical strength can help overcome the most daunting of challenges.

Derek Poundstone is an example of someone who has overcome many obstacles in his life to reach the peak of his chosen profession and beyond.