Q&A Staff

Dave Tate

Dave Tate is the founder and CEO of Elite Fitness Systems, staffed by experienced professionals dedicated to providing strength coaches, athletes and trainers with the highest-quality equipment, personalized service and extensive knowledge needed to advance their training programs.

Dave has been involved with powerlifting for more than two and a half decades as a world-class participant, coach and consultant. He has logged more than 10,000 hours of personal training and strength consulting sessions with professional, elite and novice athletes, as well as with professional and university strength coaches. He holds Elite status in powerlifting (in three weight classes) with best lifts of a 935 squat, 740 deadlift, 610 bench press and 2,205 total.

In addition to remaining active as a participant who still pushes himself to excel, Dave contributes insights and inspiration to the sport that has shaped him. Through Elite Fitness Systems, he has conducted hundreds of influential seminars and clinics nationwide for gyms, training centers, schools and universities. He has written more than 100 articles on strength training for magazines and web sites, including Powerlifting USA, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Health and T-Nation.com. This athlete-entrepreneur earned a Lifetime Achievement award in 2005 from the Society for Weight Training Specialists.

Dave Tate’s impact also extends beyond training techniques and beyond his sport. As a business adviser, motivational speaker and author, he shows how athletic disciplines teach valuable lessons for overall achievement. “We each have all we need to achieve success in anything we choose to do,” says Tate, describing the theme of his 2005 book, Under the Bar / Twelve Lessons of Life from the World of Powerlifting. He lives with his family in London, Ohio.

View Dave's Training Log here

Dave's interviews:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Jim Wendler

Senior Editor, Q/A Staff, Sales Manager, Powerlifting
Senior Editor and Sales Manager of Elite Fitness Systems. He worked as a Strength and Conditioning coach at the University of Kentucky where he worked with several different teams including football and baseball. He played football and graduated from the University of Arizona where he earned three letters. Jim’s best lifts include a 1000lbs squat, a 675 bench press, 700lbs deadlift and a 2375 total in the 275lbs class.

View Jim's Training Log here

Jim's interviews:  1 2 3

Bob Youngs

Q/A Staff, Powerlifting
Elite powerlifter and owner of Southside Barbell in Florida. In 1996, Bob moved to Columbus, Ohio and began training at Westside Barbell. In two years, his total went from 1540 to 2000. He has totaled Elite in the 275lbs class and has totaled 2010. His best lifts are an 840 squat, 540 bench press and a 705 deadlift.

Bob's interviews: 1

John Bott

Q/A Staff, Powerlifting, Personal Training
Mathematics teacher at North Bergen High School and resides in Palisades Park, New Jersey. He served as the North Bergen wrestling and strength coach from 1988-1997 and is a strength-training consultant to many athletes on the east coast. He has been competing in powerlifting since 1986 and has earned an elite classification in four different weight classes. His best lifts are a 900 squat, 555 bench press and a 685 deadlift. His best total to date is 2050.

View John's Training Log here

Thomas Deebel, D.C.

Q/A Staff, Rehabilitation
Thomas graduated from Penn State University in 1985 with a B.S. in biology with a physiology concentration. In 1988, he graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic with a D.C. degree. In 1998, Thomas achieved his first ART certification in upper extremity work. Since then he’s achieved certification in all course work through level three (biomechanics).Thomas worked on the Ironman Triathlon treatment staff 6 times in 1998-2001, and has also been part of the Arnold Classic medical staff.

The Thinker

Q/A Staff, Sport Specific
The Thinker is a student of Soviet and Eastern Bloc training methodologies and is engaged in the constant pursuit to further his own physical conditioning and coaching abilities. The Thinker’s aggregate of professional experiences include training sportsmen in the disciplines of American Football, Athletics, Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Military Special Operations, and many other Olympic sports. The Thinker is a Strength Coach (football) at a major D-1 University and will no longer operate at EFS under his real identity. The thinker is the founder of Power Development Inc..

Click here for the Thinker's Products

Alwyn Cosgrove

Q/A Staff, Sport Specific, Personal Training, Fight Corner
Alwyn is a Tae kwon-do international champion and has utilized his personal experience as an athlete and combined it with the advanced theories of European Sports Science and the principles of modern strength and conditioning systems. He has worked with a wide variety of clientele, including several Olympic and national level athletes, five World Champions and professionals in a multitude of sports including boxing, martial arts, soccer, ice skating, football, fencing, triathlon, rugby, bodybuilding, dance and fitness competition.
http://www.alwyncosgrove.com

Alwyn's interviews: 1

Click here for Alwyn's Products

Joe Defranco

Q/A Staff, Sport Specific, Personal Training
Joe is one of this countries most highly sought after performance enhancement specialists. Joe has trained over 500 high school and college athletes from various sports. This includes All-State and All-American performers in football, baseball, wrestling, basketball, track & field, lacrosse and hockey. 31 of Joe’s athletes have been drafted by the NFL. Joe has developed a reputation for achieving previously unheard of results with his athletes. He is considered one of the most highly respected trainers in the world. DeFrancosTraining.com

View DeFranco's Training Log here

Joe's Interviews: 1

Click here for Joe's Products

Zach Even-Esh

Q/A Staff, Powerlifting, Personal Training
Zach specializes in training young athletes and combat athletes. A former bodybuilder who converted to the Darkside after experiencing countless athletic injuries due to uneducated training methods, Zach now operates his own websites and training business, Underground Strength Coach. He continues to train in combat sports such as wrestling and BJJ.
http://ZachEven-Esh.com
http://UndergroundStrengthCoach.com
http://REALManFitness.com


Zach's interviews: 1, 2

Click here for Zach's Products

Jim "Smitty" Smith

Q/A Staff, Sport Specific Grip Development, Non-Conventional Training
Smitty, a strength coach with the Diesel Crew, dedicates himself to studying, developing and enhancing athletic performance through the utilization of conventional, non-conventional and grip strength training protocols. Helping athletes of all skills levels attain their goals and “Achieve Beyond Potential”, Smitty is also an amateur strongman competitor, lecturer and author whose writings regularly appear on EliteFTS.com, TotalPerformanceSports.com, DragonDoor.com and many others.
http://www.DieselCrew.com,

Click here for Jim's Products

Ano Turtiainen

Q/A Staff, Powerlifting
Ano competed in the IPF ( 242 weight class) between the years of 1989 - 1996. In 1993 he won the European Championships and in the same year got silver in the Worlds. Since 1997 he has competed in the WPC, weight class 275 lbs. He has won the European Championships on three occasions and also has four World Championships under his belt.

Since 2001 he has been competing mainly in the WPO winning the 2002 Final, heavyweight class. Ano's best lifts are, squat 1080, Bench 678, Deadlift 894, Total 2491.

Ano also owns Metal Gym and the Metal Sport and Wear company that supplies gym equipment and powerlifting gear. In his little, but lively, family belongs Minna, and his daughters Mimmi and Doris. Ano is also interested in motor-sport and spends his spare time with his family in the country side.
www.GoMetal.com

View Ano's Training Log here

Dr. Michael Yessis

Q/A Staff, Sport Specific
Dr. Yessis is professor emeritus, biomechanics and kinesiology, and president of Sports Training Inc. a diversified company that does specialized work with athletes and develops specialized training equipment. Dr. Yessis is also the foremost U.S. expert on Russian training methods. He has been to Russia multiple times, worked with their coaches such as Yuri Verkhoshansky, and has translated and published Russian training articles in the Fitness and Sports Review International for over 29 years. He also wrote the #1 article read in Muscle and Fitness (Kinesiology - Training Notebook) for over 25 years. View Dr. Yessis' website at: www.dryessis.com

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CJ Murphy

Strongman Advisory Board
Murph is the owner, and head instructor at Total.Performance Sports and also a multiple award winning trainer, including the "Spirit of Strength" award from USA Master Trainers.
CJ's interviews: 1

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Harry Selkow

A long-time athlete and experienced trainer, Harry brings a wealth of knowledge to the EliteFTS site. Since graduating from Ithaca College in Physical Education, Harry has become a nationally recognized, highly sought-after performance enhancement specialist. He is currently in his second term as the strength & conditioning coach of the Arizona Sundogs (NHL/Central Hockey League) as well as for the Bradshaw Mountain High School football program. Harry has worked with hundreds of athletes in more than 20 different sports over the course of the last 31 years.

View Selkow's Training Log here

Shelby Starnes

Shelby Starnes is one of Justin Harris / Troponin Nutrition’s premier nutritionists. Since joining Troponin in 2005 he has helped hundreds of athletes dial in their training, nutrition, and supplementation. Shelby has been involved in powerlifting and bodybuilding for over ten years, competing and placing very respectably in both. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wayne State University and has written numerous articles on sports nutrition.

In his first bodybuilding competition he won the overall in the Novice division, and took 2nd place in the open middleweight class, thereby qualifying himself for national level competition. Since then he’s competed twice at the NPC Jr. Nationals, placing 5th in 2006 and 6th in 2007.

Kristen Yukness

Kristen Yukness is one of the most uncommonly multi-disciplined and highly achieving athletes in the country. In addition to being a special agent in law enforcement and a leading instructor in physical conditioning and arrest techniques/defensive tactics, she also has an Elite total in powerlifting and has been consistently ranked in the top 20 in her class (123 pounds) in the USAPL. In addition to being a tremendous athlete and career professional, Kristen is a Certified Fitness Trainer; Specialist in Performance Nutrition; a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner. In 2006, she also received a Distinctive Achievement Award from the International Sports Science Association. In April 2006, Kristen suffered a hip and pelvis injury and has worked hard, retrained and modified her style to be able to compete in the deadlift again. Against these odds, many in the sport would have hung up their lifting shoes for good, but given Kristen’s unquenchable determination, she was motivated to get back on the platform once again and compete successfully.

The Angry Coach

The Angry Coach is the strength coach, and also a positional coach, for a successful high school football program. Since 2001, an impressive number of his players have gone on to play college football, including several at the Division I and I-AA levels and two who have played professionally in the NFL. The Angry Coach has also worked with athletes at the college and professional levels in a variety of disciplines, including football, track and field, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, rowing and mixed martial arts (MMA). For professional reasons, the Angry Coach will not be using his real identity.

Brian Schwab

Powerlifting, Personal Training
Brian is the world's number one ranked powerlifter in the 148lbs. class and a WPO champion in the lightweight division. He also won the 148lbs. class in the first Bench America contest and is recognized as one of the most consistent powerlifters in the world. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Florida and owns and operates Orlando Barbell (www.orlandobarbell.com)--a 24 hour access gym focused on hardcore training. His best lifts in the 148 lb. class are a 765 pound squat (five times bodyweight), the highest 148 pound class full meet bench of 565 pounds, a 606 pound deadlift and the all time highest total (148 pound class) of 1,930 pounds. He is now moving up to the 165 pound class where his best lifts include a 788 pound squat, a 600 pound bench, a 628 pound deadlift and a 1929 pound total.

View Brian's Training Log here

Click here for Biran's Products

Marc Bartley

Powerlifting, Personal Training
Marc is one of the premier 275lbs. lifters in the world. He is a WPO competitor and at the 2005 Arnold Classic he squatted a huge 1058. Marc has been competing in powerlifting for 6 years and has used the IPA, APF, USAPL and the WPO to showcase his strength. He currently owns Total Gym in South Carolina. Despite his appearance, Marc is a very well educated man as he holds two degrees from the University of South Carolina; one in finance and one in economics. His best lifts include a 1058 squat, 700lbs bench press and a 722 deadlift. His best total to date is 2463.SouthCarolinaBarbell.com

View Marc's Training Log here

Marc's interviews: 1 2

Click here for Marc's Products

Chad Aichs

Powerlifting
Chad is a WPO competitor in the SHW division. He began training seriously for powerlifting in 1999. In six years, Chad has proven to be one of the strongest lifters in the world. Chad now has an 1173 squat, an 821 bench press and has pulled 755. His best total is 2733 and has a lot left to prove. Chad holds the AWPC world records in all three lifts and holds the WPO three-lift bench press record. Chad currently trains at American Iron Gym in Sparks, Nevada.

View Chad's Training Log here

Julia

Powerlifting, Sports Specific
Sports Performance coach and a #1 ranked powerlifter (132lb class). Julia's best total is 1102 with competition lifts of 457 squat, 240 bench press and a 424 dead lift. Julia also won her weight class at the 2005 APF Senior Nations. Julia spends her days working with both men and women athletes of various sports, abilities and skill levels.

View Julia's Training Log here

Julia's interviews: 1, 2

Matt Kroczaleski

Powerlifting
Matt made quite a statement at the 2006 Arnold Classic. Lifting in the 220lbs class, Matt squatted 926, bench pressed 660, and deadlifted 755 and came away with the win. A cancer survivor, Matt has overcome many obstacles on his way to becoming one of the most dominant forces in powerlifting today. Matt currently trains in Michigan and has competed in the USAPL, WPO and the APF.

View Matt's Training Log here

Matt's interviews: 1

Scott Yard

Powerlifting
Scott a native out of Baltimore MD is a 2004 graduate of Western Maryland College. He is an Insurance Producer in the state of Pennsylvania. Training competitively for 6 years as a bench specialist Scott decided to throw his hat at full meets. In his second full meet in September of 2006 Scott broke the all time world Record total for the 275 class. This was done at the age of 23. His 2605 total consists of a 1050 Squat, 840 Bench, and a 715 Deadlift. Scott’s 840 Bench is the heaviest recorded bench to date in a full meet across all weight classes. Scott trains out of Club Natural Gym in Hanover PA and hopes to compete for many years to come.

View Scott's Training Log here

Hannah Johnson

Powerlifting, Personal Training
Hannah is an elite level powerlifter with a 960 total in the 148lb class. She has also competed in figure competitions and was a nationally ranked tennis player as a teenager. She is has worked with a wide range of clients including athletes, the obese and the elderly. She is the owner of TotalBodyTurnaround, LLC Fitness Bootcamps and Personal Training. She currently trains with Chris “Ox” Mason and is simply referred to as “The MINX.”
www.HannahJPT.com

View Hannah's Training Log here

Chris Clark

Powerlifting
Chris is a SHW powerlifter from North Carolina. He has recorded a 970 squat, 675 bench press and a 733 deadlift. He won the 2006 WPC SHW open class in New York. He currently trains at Granite City Barbell and trains with Travis Mash and Chris “Ox” Mason.

View Chris' Training Log here

Travis Rogers

Bench Press Specialist
Rogers started lifting weights in his early teenage years and eventually turned to powerlifting in his mid-20s. Rogers, 38, recently finished fourth place at the 2007 Arnold Classic, WPO Bench Bash. When competing, he fluctuates between 325-335 pounds and stands five feet 10 inches tall. His best bench press was at the 2007 Arnold Classic where he lifted 826 pounds. Rogers grew up 30 minutes outside of Orchard Park, New York in the town of Arcade.

View Travis' Training Log here

Justin Harris

Powerlifting, Nutrition
As owner of Troponin Nutrition, and the reigning Jr. USA Super Heavyweight bodybuilding champion, Justin Harris has helped hundreds of athletes with individualized, sport specific diet and nutrition planning. His writing on nutrition and performance has been spotlighted in publications including Muscular Development and Ironman magazine and he has been featured on the cover of numerous others.

Justin holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Alma College and was a two-time division III all American in football. He also was 2000 Division III MVP/Player-of-the-year and was featured in Street and Smith’s as pre-season “Small College MVP.”

He recently achieved an elite total classification in the 275-pound weight class in his very first powerlifting contest. He squatted 876 pounds, bench pressed 573 pounds and deadlifted 700 pounds for a combined total of 2149 pounds.

View Justin's Training Log here

Eric Talmant

Powerlifting, Nutrition
Eric Talmant is a WPO competitor in the lightweight division and has a “passion for all things nutrition.” A 1996 graduate of the University of Evansville, Eric is a Certified Metabolic Typing instructor and lives in rural Spring Hill, Florida, north of Tampa.

Eric has competed in the ADFPA, NASA, AAPF, APF and the WPO, and currently holds the APF Florida state men’s open squat record of 678 pounds.

His best lifts are a 683 pound squat, 391 pound bench press, and a 650 pound deadlift in the 165 pound weight class.

View Eric's Training Log here

Jeremy Frey

Jeremy brings to the team a world of hands-on experience. He played football in high school and rugby in college, all the while pursuing powerlifting on the side. Today, in addition to being the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at a Division III college, he has become a serious, competitive powerlifter. In fact, Jeremy was the 2005 Junior Division APF Senior Nationals Champion, as well as that year’s WPC Junior Division World Champion. Jeremy is has a passion for helping teach others along with an ability to motivate and inspire those around him. His philosophy is straightforward: “Success comes from learning from those who have been there, by doing it yourself, and having an understanding that you can always learn something new.” In the November 2005 WPC World Championship in Helsinki, Jeremy turned in the following performance in the 220 lb. junior division: squat, 788 lbs.; bench, 501 lbs.; dead lift, 661 lbs.

View Jeremy's Training Log here

Jo Jordan

Jo has made some incredible progress during the past two years. At the 2005 AAPF Southern States, he totaled a respectable 1797. But in August 2007, at the APF Byrd Memorial Powerlifiting and Benchpress Meet, he squatted a huge 925 pounds, benched 639 lbs., and dead lifted 672 lbs. taking 1st Prize and the Best Lifter designation with a total of 2,236. Jo also finished second runner-up at the 2007 APF Senior Nationals and went 920 pounds in the squat, 611 pounds in the bench, and 666 in the dead lift for a 2,197 total. He competes in the 242 lb. class in both the AAPF and APF. Originally from Alabama, Jo was an army brat and has lived all over the U.S. He earned a B.S. degree in Recreation from the University of Florida and is currently a certified personal trainer through NESTA and is studying for the CSCS exam.

View Jo's Training Log here

Matt Rhodes

Matt is a tremendous resource for our readers by bringing that hard-to-find mix of both real-world coaching and athletic experience. Not only did Matt play football at the University of Arizona (1996-98), he also worked as a strength coach at the University of Richmond and was an intern at the University of Pittsburgh for the accomplished Buddy Morris. Matt now lives in Greenwich, Conn., and works as a personal trainer. While Matt entered the sport of powerlifting in 2001 at 220 lbs (6’ 4”), he now tips the scale at over 300 solid pounds and has squatted 880 lbs., benched 550 lbs. and deadlifted 750 lbs.— earning Best Lifter designation in the 308 weight class at the APF Imperium in May 2006. Although the path has not been particularly easy for Matt because of Marfans Syndrome, his resolve is strong and he has the will to be a winning athlete.

View Matt's Training Log here

Joey Smith

Joey Smith is currently one of the top 275 lb.-class bench pressers in the world. In 2007, he has made both a 500 lb. raw bench press and a 735 lb. shirted press in competition. When it comes to enthusiasm and excitement, as well as a desire to help others, Joey is among the most ambitious lifters today. With eight first place and five second place competition finishes under his belt, Joey’s 10 years of training has paid off. Over the years, has worked with some of the greatest lifters in his home state of North Carolina. In business, he’s the circulation district manager for a North Carolina newspaper and also serves as a fitness trainer for his local YMCA. At present, Joey is ranked 21st in the U.S. and 24th in the world for the 275-lb. All-Time Bench Records list (June 2007).

View Joey's Training Log here

Scott Cartwright

Scott “Hoss” Cartwright has totaled Elite in both the 275 lb. and 308 lb. weight classes and has put up over 2,300 lbs. in single-ply gear. His best total to date is 2,436 lbs. Amazingly, Scott — having completely torn his triceps tendon at last year’s WPC World Powerlifting Championships in Lake George, N.Y. — came back just six months later to total a 215 lb. personal record. Talk about determination! Scott played football in college and after that, became a pro rugby player based in Hong Kong, with a winning team in international competition. When he returned to the U.S., he got hooked on powerlifting and has competed ever since. He earns a living, however, as regional manager for IBM’s software group. As of August 2007, Scott earned the following in the USPF Nationals: squat, 909 lbs.; bench press, 650 lbs.; and dead lift, 744 lbs.

View Scott's Training Log here

Charles Bailey

Charles is one of the most explosive squatter we have ever seen. In the 275lb class, Charles has best lifts of a 1080 squat, 639 bench press and a 755 deadlift. His best total to date is 2430. He is a personal trainer in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He trains a wide range of clients including powerlifters, bodybuilders and specializes in weight loss.

View Charles' Training Log here

AJ Roberts

AJ is an accomplished athlete in the sport of powerlifting, and is currently ranked as one of the top 100 powerlifters in the world in two separate weight classes. His best lifts include a 1003 lb squat, 705 lb bench press, 705 lb dead lift and a 2413 lb total. Currently AJ is the Director of Personal Training and Youth Fitness at a health club in Owensboro, KY. He previously was a NCAA Division I Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Idaho and also served as editor for Sports Specific, one of the largest sports training Web site’s in the world.

View AJ's Training Log here

Matt Smith

Current member of Westside Barbell, Matt Smith competes in the SHW class.  To date, his best lifts are a 1,160 pound squat, 749 pound bench, 850 pound deadlift, and a 2,673 pound total. Matt has competed in power lifting for more than 12 years. His first meet was in September of 1996 at the NASA Ohio Regional meet held in Delaware, Ohio.

He first came to Westside Barbell in 1999, ranked 83rd in Powerlifting USA’s Top 100 list (308/SHW class).  With the help of Louie Simmons, 18 months later he totaled 2,445 pounds and moved to number 2 on the list.
www.mattsmithpower.com

Among his accomplishments:

• 2001 IPA World Cup, 1st place, Best Lifter
• 2001 IPA Senior Nationals, 1st place
• 2002 APF Senior Nationals, 2nd place
• 2005 WPO Finals, 2nd place
• 2006 WPO Finals, 3rd place
• 2006 APF Senior Nationals, 1st place, Best Lifter
• First lifter from Westside Barbell to total 2, 400 pounds, 2,500 pounds, and  2,600 pounds
• First lifter from Westside to squat 1,100 pounds
• First person to break the 10+ year old 821 pound Westside Barbell deadlift  record (originally set by the great Matt Dimel)

Lexen Xtreme

Owned by Dan Dague (powerlifer and trainer)  and home of Chuck Vogelpohl’s Team Xtreme, Lexen Xtreme is a powerlifting and strength training gym based in Grove City, Ohio.  With more than 35 active powerlifters—including world record holders Chuck Fought, Matt Wenning, and Chuck Vogelpohl—Lexen is fast becoming one of the premier training facilities in the country.

View Lexen Xtreme's Training Log here

Jason Ferruggia

Sport Specific, Personal Training..
A nationally recognized, highly sought after performance enhancement specialist.

Martin Rooney

Sport Specific, Rehabilitation, Fight Corner
Currently works at the Parisi School of Speed and Power where athletes come to get quicker, faster and stronger.

Martin's interviews: 1

Click here for Martin's Products

Rob Pilger

Fight Corner
Rob was a competitive Amateur boxer winning three golden glove championships and competing in 70 some Amateur fights.

More from Rob Pilger

Ed Coan

Powerlifting, Advisory Board
Ed is a member of team Inzer and is quite simply the world’s most accomplished and recognized powerlifter.

Michael Hope

Rehabilitation
Michael runs a private practice that treats musculoskeletal disorders. He has lectured in the treatment of chronic low back pain, shoulder and knee rehabilitation. He consults with athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches from high school to professionals. He is trying to bridge the gap between the science of rehabilitation and its integration into the training programs for healthy and injured athletes.

Ryan Smith, D.C.

Q/A Staff, Rehabilitation
Ryan graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996 with a B.S. degree in Exercise Science. While attending Ohio State, he completed an internship in the Health-Related Fitness Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In 2000, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Chiropractic College. Ryan participated in an orthopedic rotation through the Baylor Sports Medicine Institute, with one of the Houston Astros team physicians. He served as a sports medicine advisor for the USA Fit marathon training program for 5 years. He currently owns Synergy Chiropractic Wellness Clinic located in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to regular chiropractic treatment, Dr. Smith specializes in rehab and myofascial therapy. Further information can be found at www.synergycwc.com.

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