It is said an immovable force can do nothing to an immovable object. Whoever believes this clearly never watched “The Canadian Forklift” Jessica Buettner pick up very heavy objects in the gym.
On Mar. 13, 2023, Buettner shared an Instagram clip of herself capturing a 220-kilogram (485-pound) raw back squat. Buettner wore a lifting belt, wrist wraps, and knee sleeves to assist in the strength feat. According to the caption of the athlete’s post, the lift ties Buettner’s all-time personal record (PR). The powerlifter’s all-time raw competition best remains a 218.7-kilogram (481.7-pound) squat from the 2022 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Buettner’s squat training is connected to her ongoing preparation for the 2023 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships on Mar. 25, 2023, in Sheffield, England. After competing in the 84-kilogram division during a record-breaking performance at the 2023 Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) Nationals, Buettner will move down to her usual 76-kilogram category, where she is the two-time defending IPF World Champion, in the contest.
Buettner alluded to augmenting her squat training because of inspiration from record-setting peers.
One of them was Karlina Tongotea, the 76-kilogram raw squat IPF World Record holder (223 kilograms/491.6 pounds). The other was reigning European Champion Agata Sitko, who holds the raw bench press World Record in the 84-kilogram division (147.5 kilograms/325.1 pounds).
“I watched [Tongotea] squat 230 kilograms (507 pounds) in training and [Sitko] bench 146 kilograms (321.8 pounds) as if it was nothing,” Buettner wrote. “It’s not a question of if World Records are going to get broken at this point. Sheffield is going to be something to see!”
Buettner will not be the only notable powerlifting titan featured at the 2023 Sheffield Championships. Three-time 84-kilogram IPF World Champion Amanda Lawrence also plans to make some noise in England.
Based on her training progress, Buettner has the potential to outshine her contemporaries during the proceedings. Whether that becomes the case might just be a matter of taking advantage of a friendly back-and-forth competition between superstars.
Featured image: @djessicabuettner on Instagram
