WORTHINGTON — When it came to powerlifting, Jason Smith became a world-record holder in his weight class.

He is also dedicated to his career as a special education consultant.

Still, the Worthington resident wanted more.

“I was working with (trainer) Kyle Walters and he talked me into training for my first bodybuilding show,” Smith said. “I wound up winning overall novice and got into it.”

That was at the NPC Mid-Atlantic Cup competition in Pittsburgh in June of 2019. Smith, 47, competed in his second amateur show last fall in Cleveland and took second in his division.

Not good enough.

“I wanted to step up my training, get a little more serious about it,” Smith said. “I started going to Harlan’s gym to work out more.

“I met Jeff Harlan there and asked if he’d work with me to get ready for my next show.”

Jeff Harlan owns Harlan Elite Fitness in Butler. Theresa Ivancik, who has her pro bodybuilding card, trains bodybuilders there as well.

They began working with Smith in December. He competed at the Natural Muscle Association’s (NMA) Battle of the Buckeye in Akron, Ohio, earlier this month.

Smith wound up winning the masters and open divisions there, as well as the overall title. He earned his pro card as a result.

“To get a pro card this soon, after only his second or third show, it doesn’t happen often,” Harlan said. “But Jason was that determined. He took his training so seriously.”

In the months leading up to the show, Smith showed up at the gym Monday through Friday.

“My workouts weren’t long — maybe an hour each day — but they were intense,” the 190-pound Smith said.

Ivancik worked on his diet, a part of his training Smith took so seriously that he was able to cut down on his cardio work.

“His muscles were getting flat from the cardio,” Ivancik said. “We exchanged his intake of carbs and fats and he did the rest.

“I’ve had someone whose diet I do ask about eating a cupcake. I said, ‘do what you want, but the people you’ll be competing against won’t be doing that.’ Jason was as dedicated to his diet as he was to his training.”

Smith described his muscles as getting “fat and hard” and ventured to the show in Akron fully confident.

“I saw drastic changes,” he said.

The world powerlifting records he set earlier in his life were 480 pounds in the benchpress, 525 in the squat and 625 in the dead-lift in the 181-pound division.

Now he’s off in a different direction.

Because he earned his pro card in NMA, Smith remains eligible to compete in NPC amateur events. That includes the Mid-Atlantic competition slated for the Tanglewood Center in Butler on June 5.

“I expect he’ll do very well there,” Harlan said.

As for Smith’s first pro show? Stay tuned.

“I haven’t really thought much about that yet,” he admitted. “I guess I’m just enjoying this for now. I never thought this would happen quite this quickly.”