On August 21, 2022, over Instagram, powerlifter Amanda Lawrence shared footage of herself working through a raw paused deadlift training session. At the end of the routine, after completing pulls of 235, 240, and 245 kilograms (518, 529, and 540 pounds), the American athlete captured a 250-kilogram (551-pound) paused deadlift for a new personal record (PR).
Lawrence’s paused deadlift PR is just 10.5 kilograms (23.3 pounds) off her all-time best with a traditional raw deadlift. The competitor used a sumo stance with a mixed grip and donned a lifting belt for her paused deadlift strength workout.
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Lawrence’s paused deadlift training and PR aren’t connected to any upcoming contest. Per the caption of her Instagram post, the powerlifter is smack dab in the middle of her off-season as she prepares for her next slate of competitions.
In that respect, 2022 has been a productive year for the world-class powerlifter. Lawrence came in first place in the 84-kilogram division at the 2022 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic Powerlifting Championships in early June. It is Lawrence’s third IPF World title in the last four years (2019, 2021-2022). A few months earlier, in April, she took home first in the same weight class in her debut at the 2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals.
Dating back to June 2019, Lawrence has come in first place in eight straight competitions. Here’s a rundown of Lawrence’s latest running streak of excellence while the athlete prepares to tack on more accomplishments down the line. Note: In her six-plus-year career, Lawrence has only ever performed raw on a sanctioned lifting platform.
Amanda Lawrence (84KG) | Recent Noteworthy Performances
- IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships — First place | 2019, 2021-2022
- 2019 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Raw Nationals — First place | Juniors and Open
- 2020 USAPL Gainsgiving Open — First place
- 2021 USAPL Raw Nationals — First place
- 2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals — First place
Note: Lawrence’s status as a Junior athlete and in the Open at the 2019 USAPL Raw Nationals are both factored into her winning streak.
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The Road to 600
While she’s not preparing for any pending competition, Lawrence’s Instagram post of the paused deadlift PR has a hashtag of #Roadto600. It would appear the athlete is trying to achieve a 272.1-kilogram (600-pound) deadlift in the near future.
Notably, Lawrence is the IPF deadlift World Record holder with a pull of 260.5 kilograms (574.3 pounds) from the 2021 IPF Worlds competition. In the event that Lawrence successfully deadlifts 272.1 kilograms (600 pounds), the figure would unofficially exceed her IPF World Record by 11.6 kilograms (25.7 pounds).
Judging by the ease of her paused deadlift training session, it seems Lawrence is well on track toward achieving her ambitious goal.
Featured image: @miss.amanda.ann on Instagram
