On July 24, 2023, Herber posted an Instagram clip of herself successfully locking out a 269.9-kilogram (595.2-pound) raw deadlift for two single repetitions. That number is particularly notable considering it is Herber’s all-time competition best, which she achieved at the 2023 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) The Ghost Clash 2. Herber’s previous best competition deadlift was 255 kilograms (565.1 pounds), achieved 15 months earlier at the 2021 Ireland-UA ABS Pro, making her raw milestone more noteworthy.

Herber completed her recent deadlifts from a conventional stance with a mixed grip and did not appear to have a lifting belt adorned.

One of Herber’s goals earlier this year was pursuing Kristy Hawkins’ all-time raw World Record deadlift of 277.5 kilograms (611.7 pounds) in the 75-kilogram class. Hawkins earned that mark in a first-place performance at the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro. Herber had planned to make the World Record attempt during the 2023 Extreme Powerlifting Coalition (XPC) European Championship in late March but withdrew from the contest due to unforeseen health issues.

While Herber didn’t break the record, she eventually returned to form just about two months later. The athlete finally broke the 600-pound raw deadlift barrier in late May 2023 when she pulled 272.5 kilograms (600 pounds) during the 2023 Fitness Store Classic in Singen, Germany. It’s not quite the World Record, but the pull does make Herber only the second 75-kilogram competitor (after Hawkins) to pull at least 600 pounds during a sanctioned contest on camera.

That in itself is quite a way to recover and look forward for an athlete unwillingly falling short of a World Record attempt.

At the time of this writing, Herber hasn’t revealed her upcoming competitive plans. The tenor of her latest deadlift post suggests that Herber is only easing her way back in during a recent training program. However, if such a lift is “easing in,” it might only be a matter of time before the athlete can vie for the pulling World Record again.

Featured image: @deniseherber_ on Instagram

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On Mar. 11, 2023, Herber shared an Instagram clip of herself capturing a 275-kilogram (606.2-pound) raw deadlift during a training session. According to the caption of Herber’s post, the deadlift repetition is a personal record (PR). Herber utilized a sumo stance and a mixed grip for the pull. It is unclear from the video if Herber used a lifting belt, but it may have been worn under her shirt. Otherwise, the powerlifter had no other equipment adorned for the achievement.

The deadlift PR milestone aside, Herber’s pull might be more significant for another reason: she used the video post’s caption to announce an attempt at the all-time raw World Record in the 75-kilogram weight class. The current honor belongs to Kristy Hawkins. According to Open Powerlifting, Hawkins deadlifted her record of 277.5 kilograms (611.7 pounds) in a first-place performance at the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro.

“It was my last heavy deadlift session,” Herber wrote of her upcoming ambitions. “I think I’m ready for that all-time World Record attempt of at least 278 kilograms (612.9 pounds) in the 75-kilogram class.”

Herber will try to officially eclipse Hawkins at the 2023 Extreme Powerlifting Coalition (XPC) European Championship. The contest will take on Mar. 26, 2023, in Siedlce, Poland.

Here’s an overview of Herber’s all-time competition bests. Note: According to Open Powerlifting, Herber has never recorded a raw competition squat or total.

Denise Herber | All-Time Competition Bests

• Squat (W/Wraps) — 254.9 kilograms (562.1 pounds)
• Bench Press (Raw) — 130 kilograms (286.6 pounds)
• Deadlift (Raw) — 269.9 kilograms (595.2 pounds)
• Total (W/Wraps) — 655 kilograms (1,444 pounds)

In competition, Herber has not fallen short of first place since March 2019. Overall, the powerlifter can count eight victories in 10 career contest appearances. Herber has come out triumphant in the last five contests she has participated in, including the 2022 WRPF Ghost Clash 2.

One need only watch Herber destroy a deadlift of over 600 pounds to understand the sheer power she possesses. Any other context, like her competitive history or weight class, might be irrelevant. For the high-performing athlete, capturing the raw deadlift World Record would be another expected demonstration of her unique prowess.

Featured Image: @deniseherber_ on Instagram

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