Kurt Setterberg's older brother Roy got him started lifting weights in 1968 and was Kurt's first "coach". "I just kinda hung around and did what he did" Kurt recalled. The sport came easily to him and when he met and began training with USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame Coach Lou DeMarco his lifting really took off. Lou, himself a nationally ranked competitor during much of Kurt's career, was a combination training partner and coach. According to Kurt "He'd train on one side of the platform and I'd use the other" when they trained either in Lou's basement or high school.

Early in his career Kurt entered only local meets in the Youngstown, Ohio area but by 1973 he was ready for national competition. Lifting in the 75 Kilo (165 lb.) class Kurt placed 7th at the 1973 Junior National Championships. In 1974 he improved to 3rd, again in the 75 kilo class. Kurt's year was to come in 1975, now lifting as a full 82.5 Kilo (181) lifter, Kurt won the Junior Nationals with a 130 kilo Snatch and 165Clean and Jerk.

Kurt's record in the Senior National Championships was even more impressive. Lifting in 11 straight Seniors Nationals between 1974 and 1984 Kurt competed in four different weight classes (75, 82.5, 90 and 100 kilos). Kurt won the National Championships in both 1978 and 1979 in the 100 kilo class. As National Champion Kurt had the honor of representing the United States in two World's Championship, finishing 7th in 1978 and 11th in 1979.

One of Kurt's biggest honors turned into a huge disappointment as he was selected to the ill-fated 1980 USA Olympic Weightlifting Team. That year, because of US Govt. opposition to the Soviet Union's foreign policy, the US Olympic Team was forced to boycott the Moscow Games. He overcame that setback though and continued to lift at a high level, once again making the USA World Team in 1982. Kurt retired after his 11th straight National Championship meet in 1984.

Kurt training philosophy was rooted firmly in the belief that if an exercise didn't help him Snatch, Clean or Jerk more weight, then he didn't do it. His workouts were always centered on the classic lifts with plenty of squatting thrown in. He trained between 3 and 5 days per week and usually kept the percentages in the 80 to 90 % range. Invited to train at the US Olympic Training Center for one two month period, he was surprised at the high volume of 100% attempts lifters took. "I saved my best lifts for the competition" is the way Kurt now describes his training. His high level of technical proficiency allowed him to clean and jerk very nearly what he could front squat! Kurt says his best back squat was "only" 515lbs but yet he managed to clean 210 kilos (462 lbs) late in his career. Only a previous elbow injury prevented him from holding the jerk.

The Ambridge VFW meets were Kurt's favorite competition and he always managed to lift well at their annual Beaver County Open. In fact, his best total ever came when he Snatched 160 kilos (352lbs) and Cleaned and Jerked 192.5 Kilos (424 lbs.) in Ambridge.

Since his retirement from competition Kurt has stayed active in the sport, helping at many local meets along with his wife Wendy. A great lifter, an active volunteer and a long time weightlifting fan, the AMA is proud to elect Kurt Setterberg to its Olympic Weightlifting Hall of Fame.