In 2003, Coach Tom Miller and lifters Danny and Ed met and formed a powerlifting team under Special Olympics Colorado. In the beginning, they practiced at the Colorado Athletic Club and competed under the name Colorado Athletic Club Cannons.
As time went on, they moved from the Colorado Athletic Club and started practicing at Rude Recreation Center, which is where Tom saw a sign from above.
The sign was a plaque mounted above the entry to the weight room at Rude Rec which said “Rude Dogs”. Upon seeing the plaque, Tom changed the team’s name to Rude Dogs. Rude Rec because the team’s paw-ffice and the Rude Dogs name stuck.
Over the years, the team has grown and shrunk. But, whatever our size, we’ve always been a family. Below are links to photos and write-ups from prior seasons. They show the changes in our family over the years.
But, remember. Once you’ve joined the Bark Side, you’ll always be part of the pack!
Our 2026 Season featured 29 Personal Records! The Regional meet had 9 lifters earning 10 – 1st place ribbons, 8 – 2nd place ribbons, 7 – 3rd place ribbons and 3 – 4th place ribbons. State Games had 5 lifters earning 7 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals, 4 – 5th Place ribbons and 2 – 6th Place ribbons.
During our 2025 season, our lifters set 63 Personal Records! 10 lifters attended our Regional meet and earned 16 – 1st place ribbons, 7 – 2nd place ribbons, 5 – 3rd place ribbons, and 3 – 4th place ribbons. 9 lifters went to State and earned 16 – Gold medals, 5 Silver medals, 2 Bronze medals, 4 – 4th place Ribbons and 1 – 5th Place ribbon.
Our 2024 Season was grrrrrreat! Our lifters were paw-some!
In our 2023 season, we welcomed a new training partner – Muscle + Mindset! Amanda, a co-owner and certified USPL coach/official, along with several M+M members, allowed us to invade their gym and offered their expertise to our lifters. With that, the Might Mutts (a division of Rude Dogs Powerlifting) were formed.
In 2022, besides our regular pratices and meets, we formed our own team and participated in the SO Colorado Plane Pull fundraiser.
Below are links to additional prior year memories:
As stated above, the Rude Dogs history goes back to 2003. We have a collection of photos from some of those prior years.
Miscellaneous Historical Photos
Rude Dogs is able to do what we do – support our lifters, help them build strength, set PRs and compete – through our volunteer coaches and support staff. Your donation to Rude Dogs will help us purchase the uniforms and equipment we need to help our lifters succeed.
All donations are made on our Colorado Gives page and go to Special Olympics Colorado and are credited to the Rude Dogs team and are tax deductible.
