Photo By Zoran Raduka | COLUMBUS, Ohio - Capt. Quinn Romasko, an Army physical therapist assigned to Tripler...... read more read more
COLUMBUS, Ohio. – When Capt. Quinn Romasko, an Army physical therapist assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, took the stage at the 2025 Arnold Classic Strongman competition. He brought with him more than just elite-level training. With years of experience, a mindset forged through U.S. Army Ranger School, service with the 75th Ranger Regiment, and a family legacy rooted in building strength.
Romasko, an at-large member of the U.S. Army Warrior Fitness Team’s Strongman group, earned a second-place finish in the under-80-kilogram division. The Arnold is one of the most prestigious competitions in the sport, and this marked his second time reaching the podium at the event.
At-large members of the Warrior Fitness Team are volunteers who participate in the program outside their assigned duties, training for competitions like the Arnold Classic on their own time.
“The Arnold, Official Strongman Games, and Pro Strongman League are the main three,” Romasko said. “I try to compete in those each year. The sport of Strongman always has changing events at every show. I love it most; it keeps things fresh and keeps me from getting bored.”
A graduate of the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, Romasko integrates Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) principles into his daily life. H2F is the Army’s comprehensive framework for optimizing Soldier readiness through physical, mental, nutritional, and spiritual fitness. Though his unit doesn’t currently have a full H2F team, Romasko lives out these principles through daily habits and lifestyle choices.
“I meditate with a mindfulness app, track macros when cutting weight, and train about 15 hours a week for Strongman,” he said. “Then I spend another six to eight hours doing physical hobbies like jiu-jitsu, swimming, hockey, or surfing. I know my eating tendencies, and one example is I’ve always hated vegetables, so I blend them and drink 32 to 64 ounces daily. My wife also regularly signs me up for triathlons and races—and humbles me, to put it nicely.”
That adaptability is something Romasko said he sharpened in the Army, especially during his time at Ranger School.
“Since Ranger School seven years ago—even with the weight loss and atrophy during training—there was a noticeable improvement in recovery and work capacity that’s never really left,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t have been willing to carry 80 to 120 pounds across mountains for 20 hours a day without that experience. It helped me embrace discomfort, manage stress, and keep showing up.”
That mindset proved helpful at the Arnold, where athletes were notified just 10 hours before the competition that a sandbag medley event would be dropped and replaced with a deadlift ladder. Romasko won that substitute event.
“I like to think I do the science part well,” he said. “I analyzed past results on Iron Podium, figured out the winning rep count, and hit that number.”
That ability to adjust is something every Soldier learns—missions tend to shift at the eleventh hour. You adapt and execute.
Romasko’s approach to fitness is deeply personal, shaped by a family who shares his passion. He coaches his sister, a world champion in the 125-pound weight class. His mother also currently competes in powerlifting, holding multiple records and using programs he designs for her.
“My sister got me back into competing, and we’ve always been really close,” Romasko said. “The whole family is involved. I’ll send a lift video to the group chat looking for technical feedback and get zero help—just a bunch of compliments and hype. They’re the best support system.”
At the Arnold, Romasko watched his sister secure her world title.
“There’s no higher level for her,” he said. “I was the first to hug her on her final rep. That moment meant so much. It even took the nerves out of my events.”
As a physical therapist, Romasko emphasizes performance longevity and risk analysis for himself and his patients. He’s no stranger to injury, but his training in pain science and biomechanics gives him the tools to keep going safely.
“Regularly hurting myself has taught me good lessons in risk versus reward,” he said. “After school, I also understand what pain means, what’s actually dangerous, and how to work around it. That’s largely influenced how I make recommendations to my patients and Soldiers. Many Soldiers don’t care about being pain-free. They want to know the risks of staying in the fight and get guidance on how to train around pain.”
Romasko hopes to bring that same mindset to a future U.S. Army Forces Command assignment with an embedded H2F team. In the long term, he aims for the military’s Long-Term Health Education and Training program and a doctorate in biomechanics. Whether on the lifting platform or in the physical therapy clinic, Capt. Quinn Romasko proves that strength, like service, is built through discipline, resilience, and community.
“I’m still competitive, I still enjoy the sport, and I’ve never had a catastrophic injury,” Romasko said. “I’ve won four national titles and an international competition, and I made the finals at the Official Strongman Games every year I’ve entered. I'll keep doing it as long as I can contribute to the team and represent the Army well.”
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2025 09:48 |
| Story ID: | 494359 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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