Some powerlifters start a deadlift set or workout with a modest goal. They operate with a mindset of making any sort of progress once their barbell is gripped. Deadlifting dynamo Jamal Browner likely does that too, but he usually takes his pulling prowess to another ridiculous level.
On Mar. 14, 2023, Browner shared an Instagram clip of himself scoring a 426.4-kilogram (940-pound) raw deadlift during a recent workout. The powerlifter donned just a lifting belt for the pull and completed it from a conventional stance while utilizing a hook grip. Browner (110KG) is the current all-time raw deadlift World Record holder with a pull of 455 kilograms (1,003.1 pounds) at the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Pro Raw Championships. Given the evident ease of this training deadlift, it seems more greatness is en route.
Amongst current elite powerlifters, Browner’s deadlifting adeptness mostly remains unmatched. A 432.5-kilogram (953.5-pound) personal record (PR) from March 2022 illustrates as much. For an athlete who places a premium on how much weight he can pull from the floor, such milestones could be characterized as pulling gold.
Browner’s all-time raw deadlift World Record (which was done from a sumo stance) made him only the second powerlifter to ever pull at least 453.6 kilograms (1,000 pounds) in a full raw powerlifting meet. The other competitor to be in such rare deadlift territory is Danny Grigsby, who managed the accomplishment at the 2022 USPA Virginia Beach Classic.
In addition to his deadlift record, Browner also possesses the all-time raw World Record total in the 110-kilogram division. He notched an overall total of 1,052.5 kilograms (2,320.3 pounds) at the 2022 USPA Raw Pro, further cementing himself as one of the faces of powerlifting. Browner’s record had him notably leap over the rival Derek Thistlethwaite, who initially surpassed Browner with a raw total of 1,002.4 kilograms (2,210.1 pounds) from the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro.
With all of that said, being able to pull this much weight somewhat casually from a conventional stance is a significant step forward for Browner. The athlete has risen in prominence because of the power he showcases while primarily using a sumo stance. It looks like broaching the 1,000-pound boundary while lifting from a conventional position may be the powerlifter’s next ambitious goal.
When it comes to breaking records and seemingly defying gravity with his deadlifts, it’s probably more of a matter of “when”, not “if,” Browner’s name is etched into the record books once again. This is a powerlifter accustomed to redefining what is possible with a barbell. At this point, rewriting the strength dictionary is more of an expectation, not a hope.
Featured image: @jamal_b15 on Instagram
