Paul Gillott started lifting in the early 1970s, while attending Arizona State University. As a wrestler at ASU in the 118lb class, he began lifting to gain strength for wrestling. In 1976 he began to compete in powerlifting as a member of the famed world champion “John Cole's Power Team”. That same year, he won his first State Championship at 123lbs. he went on to win 3 more State Championships in the 132lb and the 148lb class.

In 1979 Paul joined the U.S. Army and became an Army Ranger. Although training time was scarce, due to his military obligations, he continued competing. He has won State Powerlifting titles in the states of Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Alabama, Nebraska, and North Carolina. He has also competed over seas in Europe and Korea, where, in 1987-88 he won back to back all Euopean Powerlifting titles. In 1990, while parachuting at Fort Bragg, NC, he sustained an injury to his hip, which forced him to retire from the sport, as he was no longer able to squat competitively.

In 2001, Paul was diagnosed with advanced coronary artery disease, ending his 23-year service in the Army. Leaving the service with the rank of Major, he had quintuple bypass surgery at the age of 47. As soon as his doctors cleared him, he was back in the gym.

In 2007 Paul competed in the NASA Masters Nationals and won the power sports competition (strict curl, bench, and dead lift), the push/pull, and the unequipped bench press. He set a NASA world record in the power sports bench as well as American records in the curl, unequipped bench and push/pull total.

Currently Paul is a volunteer wrestling and strength coach at Prescott high school in Prescott, AZ. His strength club has won the Arizona State Championships and the Southwest Regional Championships.