The most important part of Lovelace’s latest training update might not have been the lift itself. The caption features the strength superstar revealing that she plans to accomplish an 18-inch Axle Deadlift of at least 363 kilograms (800 pounds) by the end of the 2023 calendar year.

When it comes to shining on sanctioned lifting platforms in major contests, and in individualized training sessions, Lovelace is largely unparalleled in the current strength sports pantheon. The last approximate year, dating back to spring 2022, has seen Lovelace dominate seemingly whenever possible.

One of Lovelace’s more notable accomplishments includes setting the Axle Deadlift World Record at 261.5 kilograms (576.5 pounds) at the 2022 Arnold Strongman UK. Before that achievement, Lovelace broke the strongwoman deadlift World Record with a pull of 282.5 kilograms (623 pounds) at the 2022 Berkshire’s Strongest competition.

To start 2023, Lovelace picked up (no pun intended) where she left off by setting a new U64 Atlas Stone World Record of 146.8 kilograms (323.6 pounds) during the 2023 Kaos New Year Push/Pull 2023 contest. In the same competition, she scored a new top benchmark with the U64 Axle Press World Record of 101 kilograms (222.6 pounds).

According to Lovelace’s caption, she previously set the 18-inch Axle Deadlift World Record at just over 700 pounds in October 2022. At the time of this writing, it is unclear what contest she refers to. Nonetheless, by the end of 2023, Lovelace has lofty ambitions to add over 45.3 kilograms (100 pounds) to her all-time best.

Lovelace is the reigning U64 World’s Strongest Woman (WSW) champion and first captured that title in 2018. According to her page on Open Powerlifting, as a powerlifter, Lovelace has never lost a contest dating back to a career that began in May 2015.

As one of the more decorated strength athletes today, Lovelace probably has a lot on her plate at any given moment. The athlete has usually handled it with aplomb and, based on her high standard of strength excellence, will likely continue to do so.

Featured image: @rhi.lovelace on Instagram

The post Rhianon Lovelace Scores 320-Kilogram (705-Pound) Axle Deadlift, Announces Intent to Eclipse 363 Kilograms (800 Pounds) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Feb. 18, 2023, during the 2023 Log Lift for Life Invitational in Tamworth, UK, Lovelace finished off a 146.8-kilogram (323.6-pound) Atlas Stone lift. According to the caption of her Instagram post of the feat, it is an all-time World Record in the U64 (64-kilogram) weight class. Lovelace wore a lifting belt, forearm-protecting sleeves, and knee sleeves for support during the record lift.

Lovelace kept her reflection on her new achievement short and sweet. It’s probably because the athlete understands there’s likely only more to come, given her intense training and commitment.

“Warm-ups flew, I knew we were on for a good day early on!” Lovelace wrote. “Only 49 days into 2023, and we’re already two World Records in, with my best lift still to come! Buckle up. Because this year’s gonna be big.”

To top a productive weekend, Lovelace would shift to the 2023 OLO Pro Invitational where, during a victorious all-around performance, she set the strict barbell curl heavyweight World Record of 55 kilograms (121.3 pounds).

Not to be outdone, Lovelace shouted out the charity money raised by the overall short event, which apparently topped the equivalent of $1,000 dollars and will go straight to men’s mental health awareness. She credited 100% C.A. Promotions, originally founded by trainer Stig Parker. Per the organization’s website masthead, it is committed to safety, inclusivity, and equal promotion for strongmen and strongwomen.

“Big shout out to the hard work from [100% C.A. Promotions] for raising nearly £1000 [$1204.28] for men’s mental health charity!” Lovelace wrote. “And for his [Parker] effort into such a great day, making sure we all had everything we needed and made sure all athletes’ safety was absolutely paramount!”

What lies ahead for Lovelace on a competitive front is unclear. For an athlete seemingly willing to take on all challenges and comers in her path, anything might be possible. The only ideal that might be obvious is that her awesome accomplishments should probably stop surprising the strongperson world.

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Rhianon Lovelace Sets U64 Atlas Stone World Record of 146.8 Kilograms (324 Pounds) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Jan. 22, 2023, Lovelace captured a 101-kilogram (222.6-pound) Axle Press during the 2023 Kaos New Year Push/Pull 2023 contest at the Kaos Strength Gym in Preston, England. The astonishing feat is an all-time U64 (64-kilogram weight class) World Record. Even more so, it demonstrates that after a 2022 calendar year where Lovelace sprinkled in noteworthy achievements throughout several competitions, the athlete is still pushing full steam ahead to etch her name at the top of a record list anywhere possible.

Lovelace seemingly understands her status in the modern strongwoman sphere. As she gears up for another productive year of competitions, the athlete had a succinct summary of her Axle Press record in a post of the lift on her Instagram profile.

“Three weeks into 2023, and we’re already one world record in,” Lovelace wrote. “Big plans this year, just the beginning.” 

A two-time U64 World’s Strongest Woman (WSW) champion (2018, 2022), Lovelace has been no slouch regarding full-slate, major strongwoman contests of late. According to Strongman Archives, the athlete can boast three out of four podium finishes in the tentpole WSW main event. The only instance in which Lovelace fell short of a top-two result was during her WSW debut in December 2017.

Outside of the WSW parameters, Lovelace made 2022 rather prolific with all circumstances considered. Last May, the athlete broke the British raw deadlift World Record with a pull of 241 kilograms (530 pounds) from the 2022 British Powerlifting Union (BPU) contest. She followed that accomplishment by breaking the all-time strongwoman deadlift World Record (282.5 kilograms/623 pounds) at the 2022 Berkshire’s Strongest competition. Finally, in September 2022 — roughly a month and a half before Lovelace captured her second career WSW championship — the competitor broke the Axle Deadlift World Record with a pull of 261.5 kilograms (576.5 pounds) during the 2022 Arnold Strongman (AS) UK.

With this latest Axle Press notch in her lifting belt, it seems Lovelace is picking up where she left off in 2022.

Few of Lovelace’s peers could likely match what she executes in the gym and in sanctioned competitions. In the months ahead in 2023, it seems inevitable she’ll continue to climb mind-bending heights when it comes to showcasing impeccable displays of power and will.

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Strongwoman Rhianon Lovelace Sets U64 Axle Press World Record of 101 Kilograms (222.6 Pounds) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Sept. 30, 2022, Laurence Shahlaei, 2016 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM), posted two videos to his YouTube channel where he trained shoulders and legs respectively with the athlete. In the former video, Thompson revealed she would soon make another attempt at the strongwoman Log Lift World Record at the 2022 World Log Lift Championships in Ipswich, UK. Notably, with a successful lockout, Thompson would be extending her own record mark of 135 kilograms (297.6 pounds) from the 2020 World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats of Strength” Series.

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In the first legs video, after finishing some cardio (the treadmill for Shahlaei; an air bike for Thompson), the pair got after it with some safety bar squats. Thompson logged multiple high-rep sets of 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds). Afterward, the duo continued to seemingly center on endurance, powering through a leg curl and drop set leg press. To cap the routine, Thompson and Shahlaei decided to close with some high-rep leg extensions.

In the second video, it was all about overhead movements as Thompson announced her plans for the new World Record in the process.

To start, Thompson and Shahlaei did a few sets of respective log lifts together. They would finish the sequence by doing three one-rep sets of a massive 122-kilogram (269-pound) log lift. Here, Thompson emphatically noted that her record attempt would be for a significant milestone.

“I’m gonna break the record, then go for 140 kilograms (308.6 pounds),” Thompson told Shahlaei. “You heard it here first.”

Once they finished working through their log lifts, Thompson and Shahlaei shifted over to the viking press. The pair did not disclose what weight they were using, though Thompson capped the segment with an impressive set of 15 reps to showcase her shoulder power and endurance with the movement.

To close this workout, Thompson and Shahlaei focused on preventative maintenance training for different parts of the shoulders. With Thompson nearing a competition, keeping that part of her body healthy appeared imperative.

[Related: The 10 Best Dumbbell Exercises to Hit Your Lats]

The upcoming World Log Lift Championships aren’t the only competition Thompson has on her plate. The athlete will also feature in December’s 2022 World’s Strongest Woman (WSW). At the time of this writing, the precise date and location of the contest have not been announced. Per Strongman Archives, Thompson won the 2018 WSW and finished in third place at the 2019 edition — her last appearance at the competition.

The 2022 calendar year is starting to wind down, but for Thompson, it could be one for the record books by the time the clock strikes midnight in January 2023.

Featured image: Big Loz Official on YouTube

The post Strongwoman Andrea Thompson Trains With Laurence Shahlaei, Announces World Record Attempt appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Per a post on her Instagram, Lovelace competed at the 2022 AS UK with a body weight of 63 kilograms (138.9 pounds). That means Lovelace’s axle deadlift World Record was 4.1 times her body weight. Lovelace worked from a conventional stance while utilizing a lifting suit, lifting belt, and lifting straps to help with her record pull. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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To celebrate her record and winning the first-ever Arnold Pro UK title a day before, Lovelace couldn’t seem to find the appropriate words to describe her historic achievement in an initial Instagram post. 

“I have no words,” Lovelace wrote. “To hit the [record] after competing for two days and winning the first ever Arnold Pro UK, I’m speechless.”

As the athlete would later note, she decided to reflect on and be appreciative of her journey and resolve in another post.

“After competing for two successful days (with tough competition, so I couldn’t take it easy) to win the Arnold Pro Title, running off three hours of sleep, I was doubting myself,” Lovelace wrote. “I knew I was going to need to go somewhere dark to get this done.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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Even without her axle deadlift World Record and Arnold Pro title, it was already quite the successful 2022 competitive year for Lovelace. 

In late May 2022, during the British Powerlifting Union (BPU) Single Lift British Championships, Lovelace broke the British raw powerlifting deadlift record with a pull of 241 kilograms (530 pounds). Later, while competing at the 2022 Berkshire’s Strongest competition in mid-July 2022, Lovelace broke the overall strongwoman deadlift World Record with a pull of 282.5 kilograms (623 pounds) — exceeding her own record from the 2020 Strength Shop Record Breakers contest by over 20 pounds. (Note: The athlete won both contests.)

Finally, in August 2022, she won her fourth consecutive Britain’s Strongest Woman title. She has not lost that contest since making her debut in 2018. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

[Related: How to Do the Goblet Squat for Lower Body Size and Mobility]

Now in possession of a larger axle deadlift World Record, Lovelace was not shy in expressing what her accomplishment at a major international contest might have meant for strong women on a wider scale.

“We are witnessing the dawn of a new era of Strongwoman!” Lovelace wrote. “A time where the best Women are welcomed to the biggest stages in the sport, witnessed by thousands. The rise of strongwomen!”

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Rhianon Lovelace Scores an Axle Deadlift World Record of 261.5 Kilograms (576.5 Pounds) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Smith successfully captured the victory in the strength competition by overcoming Andrew Flynn by a single point. Meanwhile, in line with recent achievements from training, Underdown won all five events in a dominant performance to notch the second win of her career. The Ultimate Strongman organizing body facilitated this year’s contest, which took place on August 28, 2022, in Warrington, England.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Julian Howard (@worldsstrongestfan)

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Here’s a rundown of the standings for the Men’s portion of the contest:

2022 England’s Strongest Man Rankings

1. Paul Smith — 51 points
2. Andrew Flynn — 50 points
3. Lewis Packham — 46 points
4. Daniel Cave — 40 points
5. Ellis Vine — 35 points
6. Joe Oliver — 29.5 points
7. Mason Fessey — 28 points
8. Josh Norton — 28 points
9. Dean Evans — 25 points
10. Dan Hewson — 23 points
11. Joe Bromiley — 19 points
12. John Ford — 6.5 points

Here’s a rundown of the standings for the Women’s portion of the contest:

2022 England’s Strongest Woman Rankings

1. Lucy Underdown — 40 points
2. Katie Smith — 27 points
3. Shannon Clifford — 24 points
4. Becca Worgan — 23.5 points
5. Chloe Brennan — 22 points
6. Naomi Hadley — 20 points
7. Nadine Guy — 11.5 points
8. Andrea Seed — 5 points

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Julian Howard (@worldsstrongestfan)

[Related: Back Squat vs. Front Squat: Which, When, and Why]

Men’s Recap

Here’s an overview of how the Men’s competitors fared in each event during their contest portion.

Event One — Farmer’s Walk 

The first event for the Men was a Farmer’s Walk for time with implements of 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds). None of the competitors made it the entire distance. Andrew Flynn had the farthest carry of 27.82 meters, giving him the event victory.  

1. Andrew Flynn — 27.82 meters
2. Paul Smith — 21.22 meters
3. Ellis Vine — 18.25 meters
4. Lewis Packham — 7.53 meters
5. Josh Norton — 7.48 meters
6. Daniel Cave — 7 meters
7. Joe Bromiley — 6.78 meters
8. Dean Evans — 2.29 meters
9. Joe Oliver — 1.35 meters
10. John Ford — Zero meters
11. Mason Fessey — Zero meters
12. Dan Hewson — Zero meters

Event Two — Block Press

During the second event, the athletes had the task of completing a Block Press with four separate implements. The fastest time would win out in a situation with a tie. After a second-place result to start, Smith took the overall lead by completing his presses nearly five seconds ahead of the next best competitor. 

1. Paul Smith — Four in 52.96 seconds
2. Lewis Packham — Four in 57.95 seconds
3. Mason Fessey — Four in 64.58 seconds
4. Andrew Flynn — Three in 48.63 seconds
5. Josh Norton — Three in 53.13 seconds
6. Joe Oliver — Three in 66.64 seconds
7. Dan Hewson — Two in 23.96 seconds
8. Daniel Cave — Two in 28.55 seconds
9. Ellis Vine — Two in 35.34 seconds
10. Dean Evans — One in 12.06 seconds
11. Joe Bromiley — None completed
12. John Ford — None completed

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Paul Smith (@paul_smith_94)

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Event Three — Tire Flip

The third event of the contest gave the Men’s athletes the task of flipping a massive tire for 30 meters in 75 seconds. Daniel Cave was just one of two competitors to finish and beat Joe Oliver by fractions of a second for the event win. 

1. Daniel Cave — 74.23 seconds
2. Joe Oliver — 74.95 seconds
3. Paul Smith — 18 meters
4. Andrew Flynn — 18 meters
5. Lewis Packham — 18 meters
6. Mason Fessey — 14 meters
7. Ellis Vine — 12 meters
8. Josh Norton — 12 meters
9. Dan Hewson — 12 meters
10. Dean Evans — Four meters
11. Joe Bromiley — Two meters
12. John Ford — Two meters

Event Four — Max Deadlift

The winner of this event was straightforward. Whoever could deadlift the most weight with one rep would get the victory. Dean Evans won by being the only athlete to pull at least 400 kilograms (881.8 pounds). 

1. Dean Evans — 400 kilograms (881.8 pounds)
2. Daniel Cave — 380 kilograms (837.7 pounds)
3. Dan Hewson — 360 kilograms (793.6 pounds)
4. Paul Smith — 360 kilograms (793.6 pounds)
5. Andrew Flynn — 360 kilograms (793.6 pounds)
6. Lewis Packham — 360 kilograms (793.6 pounds)
7. Ellis Vine — 360 kilograms (793.6 pounds)
8. Mason Fessey — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
9. John Ford — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
10. Josh Norton — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
11. Joe Oliver — 320 kilograms (705.5 pounds)
12. Joe Bromiley — 320 kilograms (705.5 pounds)

Event Five — Atlas Stones

In strongman tradition, the Atlas Stones closed the competition. At the time of this article’s publication, it is unclear how the below results were tabulated. Breaking Muscle will update with all relevant information at the soonest notice. 

1. Andrew Flynn — 12 points
2. Paul Smith — 11 points
3. Joe Bromiley — 10 points
4. Lewis Packham — Nine points
5. Ellis Vine — Eight points
6. Daniel Cave — Five points
7. Joe Oliver — Six points
8. Mason Fessey — Seven points
9. Josh Norton — Three points
10. Dean Evans — Two points
11. Dan Hewson — Four points
12. John Ford — One point

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Women’s Recap

Here’s an overview of how the Women’s competitors fared in each event during their contest portion.

Event One — Anvil Walk

The Women’s first event was a 25-meter walk with a 50-kilogram (110.2 pounds) anvil. Underdown took charge with the event win and a walk under seven seconds. 

1. Lucy Underdown — 6.63 seconds
2. Shannon Clifford — 7.5 seconds
3. Katie Smith — 10.41 seconds
4. Naomi Hadley — 10.41 seconds
5. Becca Worgan — 10.44 seconds
6. Nadine Guy — 22.71 seconds
7. Chloe Brennan — 42.03 seconds
8. Andrea Seed — 67.9 seconds

Event Two — Max Deadlift

Underdown holds the All-Time Strongwoman World Record deadlift and showed that skill during this event. In an eventual victory, Underdown’s top pull was 10 kilograms (22 pounds) more than the next best athlete. 

1. Lucy Underdown — 240 kilograms (529.1 pounds)
2. Katie Smith — 230 kilograms (507 pounds)
3. Naomi Hadley — 230 kilograms (507 pounds)
4. Shannon Clifford — 220 kilograms (485 pounds)
5. Chloe Brennan — 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds)
6. Nadine Guy — 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds)
7. Andrea Seed — 180 kilograms (396.8 pounds)
8. Becca Worgan — No successful attempt

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lucy Underdown (@lucyunders_strongwoman)

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Event Three — Bag Toss Medley

The bags from the Bag Toss Medley ranged from 10 to 18 kilograms (22 to 39.6 pounds). The fastest finisher was the winner, which was once again Underdown (five in 19.62 seconds). 

1. Lucy Underdown — Five in 19.62 seconds
2. Becca Worgan — Four in 33.72 seconds
3. Shannon Clifford — Four in 41.08 seconds
4. Chloe Brennan — Three in 12.73 seconds
5. Naomi Hadley — Three in 20.21 seconds
6. Katie Smith — Three in 33.51 seconds
7. Nadine Guy — Two in 20.62 seconds
8. Andrea Seed — One in 27.39 seconds

Event Four — Circus Dumbell Press

Note: The full results for the Women’s Circus Dumbbell Press are unclear at this time. Breaking Muscle will update this article as soon as all information is ready. At the time of this writing, all that is clear is Underdown made it four of four event wins. 

Event Five — Atlas Stones

The famous Atlas Stones made an appearance as the closing event for the Women. The fifth and last stone weighed 130 kilograms (286.6 pounds). Underdown capped a perfect performance with a fifth event win by lifting all five of her stones in just over 30 seconds. 

1. Lucy Underdown — Five in 30.07 seconds
2. Katie Smith — Five in 35.49 seconds
3. Becca Worgan — Four in 36.97 seconds
4. Chloe Brennan — Four in 45.85 seconds
5. Naomi Hadley — Four in 51.87 seconds
6. Nadine Guy — Three in 19.97 seconds
7. Shannon Clifford — Three in 23.34 seconds
8. Andrea Seed — Two in 33.85 seconds

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ultimate Strongman (@officialultimatestrongman)

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According to Strongman Archives, this competition win is the second for Smith over the last few months. The strongman from the United Kingdom won the 2022 UK’s Strongest Man in early June. As for Underdown, after starting her career with a few records but no victories, the strongwoman has now won two straight contests. In addition to her win in Warrington, Underdown also won the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Woman in mid-August. 

The careers of both athletes continue to evolve at a promising pace. 

Featured image: @worldsstrongestfan on Instagram

The post 2022 England’s Strongest Man and Woman Results — Lucy Underdown and Paul Smith Take Charge appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On August 23, 2022, Lovelace shared an Instagram clip of herself completing a 120-kilogram (264-pound) Atlas Stone One Motion. According to Lovelace’s caption, the feat was just short of double her current (undisclosed) bodyweight. Though, with this footage taken into account, and if her recent competitions are any indication — Lovelace likely weighs somewhere in the range of 64 kilograms (141 pounds).

The athlete wore a lifting belt and knee sleeves while lifting the Atlas stone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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Merits of the One Motion

A staple event in many strongwoman/strongman contests, the Atlas stones present a unique challenge to respective competitors. The stones are a regular closing event, meaning they can also decide the eventual victor in many contests. However, stone-only world records also exist in strongman and strongwoman competitions.

To gain an edge over their peers in lifting the Atlas stones onto their corresponding podium, many professionals will practice the “One Motion” which saves time and can be more efficient when executed properly. 

To perform an Atlas Stone One Motion, an athlete will bend over and get their upper abdomen as close to the stone as possible. They do this to limit the distance that they have to row the stone onto their body. Then, they squeeze the stone as hard as they can and lift it in a fashion reminiscent of a stiff-leg deadlift. After the stone passes their knees, they extend their hips and back in one smooth motion before placing it down. 

This technique often puts athletes in a better position to thrive in a speed-focused Atlas stone event. When it comes to lifting the heaviest stone, a more segmented approach — where the athlete lifts it off the floor, positions it in their lap, and then hoists it to the podium or over a bar — is usually preferred. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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Lovelace’s Recent Path

As a competitor and in the gym, Lovelace has been on a relative tear of late.

In May 2022, the athlete broke the British raw deadlift World Record with a pull of 241 kilograms (530 pounds) at the 2022 British Powerlifting Union (BPU) Single Lift British Championships. Then, in late June, she completed an axle press that was 7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds) more than the current lightweight world record. Her latest achievement was breaking the deadlift strongwoman World Record with a pull of 282.5 kilograms (623 pounds) at the 2022 Berkshire’s Strongest competition in mid-July. Notably, that deadlift was 4.5-times Lovelace’s body weight of 62.5 kilograms (137.8 pounds) for the contest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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At the time of this article’s publication, Lovelace is preparing to compete in the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival UK. That contest will take place on September 23-25, 2022, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Based on her usual high standards, the elite strongwoman might have a performance to remember.  

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Strongwoman Rhianon Lovelace One-Motions an Atlas Stone That’s Almost Double Her Bodyweight appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

An Open competitor, Underdown possesses the official World Record figure with a pull of 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds) at the 2021 UK’S Strongest Man contest. Underdown made a special appearance in the Men’s competition to set the record and became the first strongwoman to deadlift at least 300 kilograms. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lucy Underdown (@lucyunders_strongwoman)

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Underdown completed her deadlift using a conventional stance and lifting straps while wearing a lifting belt. Seeing how she’s a professional strongwoman, Underdown used what would be a legal hitch to rest her loaded barbell on her thighs for a moment before completing the pull. 

Underdown’s official record mark is the second-heaviest by a Woman’s athlete in history (powerlifting or strongwoman). Powerlifter Becca Swanson (+90KG) holds the all-time heaviest deadlift with an equipped pull of 315 kilograms (694.5 pounds) at the 2005 World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) WPO European SemiFinals. Powerlifter Tamara Walcott (+90KG) possesses the third-heaviest deadlift of all time with a 290-kilogram (639.3-pound) raw pull at the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro. 

Notably, powerlifters like Swanson and Walcott cannot use lifting straps and cannot hitch the weight on their thighs at any time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lucy Underdown (@lucyunders_strongwoman)

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Underdown at a Glance 

Underdown has only been a competitive strongwoman for the better part of two years. Yet she’s already one of the sport’s elite athletes with just three competitions to her name. 

According to Strongman Archives, Underdown finished in seventh place in her first career contest at the 2020 Arnold Amateur Strongwoman World Championships. While she hasn’t won any of her three competitions to date, Underdown has finished on the podium twice — two consecutive bronze medal results in the annual UK’s Strongest Woman competition (2021-2022). Donna Moore won the 2021 edition, while Rebecca Roberts came out on top in 2022. 

Per her social media, Underdown will next compete at the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Woman competition. That will occur on August 14, 2022, in Doncaster, England. Underdown has not confirmed her goal is to surpass her deadlift World Record at the competition. Nonetheless, her recent training achievement makes it clear she could extend her mark while also potentially capturing the first victory of her growing career. 

Featured image: @lucyunders_strongwoman on Instagram

The post Strongwoman Lucy Underdown Deadlifts Unofficial World Record of 302.5 Kilograms (667 Pounds) in Training appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Lovelace wore a lifting suit to capture her new record strength feat. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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Lovelace’s deadlift achievement did not come without a challenge.

The athlete pulled the loaded barbell just past her knees before hitching the weight temporarily on her thighs while she leaned back. This hitch maneuver would not have been legal in a powerlifting contest, but the 2022 Berkshire’s Strongest was a strongwoman and strongman endeavor. Athletes who utilize the hitch typically weigh significantly less than the weight they are deadlifting. At under 300 pounds body weight, Rob Kearney would be an example of a strongman who might use this technique.

Eventually, after hitching her deadlift weight, Lovelace utilized her tremendous leg and back strength to lock out the pull for the new World Record. Notably, according to the caption of Lovelace’s Instagram post, she weighed 62.5 kilograms (137.8 pounds) at the time of her deadlift. That means she pulled over 4.5 times her body weight with this staggering figure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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An Inspiring Platform

In another post on her social media, the strongwoman appeared to be emotional as she reflected on the toll it took to notch the new lofty deadlift achievement. 

“This deadlift prep has been by far the hardest prep of my life, mentally more than physically,” Lovelace wrote. “Being on track, having everything laid out easy tick boxes, then a nice short stay in hospital with severe pneumonia and a number of other personal blows really knocked me. My mental health plummeted, my head held above the water by my team. I felt like I emotionally crawled to the finish line on my hands and knees.”

Despite her obstacles, Lovelace seemed to draw inspiration from how her work and records as a strength sports athlete might act as a catalyst for those waiting in the wings. 

“But meeting so many incredible people starting out this weekend opened my eyes to how many people my lifts touch, inspire, and motivate.” Lovelace continued. “How many believe in me and reminded me that this is so much bigger than me and my feelings. The women I represent fuel my fire and my focus. The pressure can often feel overwhelming. But pressure creates diamonds, and it is a privilege.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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Ever a strength pioneer, Lovelace has already set her sights on her next deadlift mission. She wrote in her latter Instagram post that she plans to eventually pull at least five times her body weight. It’s an ambitious goal, but Lovelace has proved capable of reaching soaring heights as an athlete. 

Featured Image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength / Instagram

The post Rhianon Lovelace Breaks Deadlift World Record With 623-Pound Pull appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On June 27, 2022, Lovelace showed her unflappability again when she completed an axle press of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) during a training session. The training lift is an unofficial World Record for a lightweight strongwoman competitor, exceeding Lovelace’s own record by 7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds).

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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According to Lovelace’s Instagram caption, this axle press is the culmination of her battle back from a shoulder injury that she suffered sometime in 2021. With patience and diligence, it seems that injury was just another roadblock.

“Last season, I had quite a shoulder injury that really messed my press up,” Lovelace writes. “It’s been a long road, but it’s nice to be back with some big numbers! I had amazing confidence in the ability of my triceps, and it’s nice to see that coming back- with zero pain!”

A Hot Streak

Lovelace’s recent exploits as a strongwoman and powerlifter continue to stand out in the strength sports world.

In late May 2022, during the annual British Powerlifting Union (BPU) Single Lift British Championships, Lovelace broke the British raw powerlifting deadlift record with a pull of 241 kilograms (530 pounds). At the time of this writing, it remains the heaviest raw British deadlift ever across any women’s powerlifting weight class.

Later that same month, before fighting off her fit of pneumonia, Lovelace unofficially exceeded her own axle deadlift World Record as a strongwoman with a pull of 240 kilograms (528 pounds). Finally, in late June 2022, the British competitor captured a 280-kilogram (616-pound) traditional deadlift. That figure unofficially exceeded the current World Record for the 64-kilogram strongwoman weight class by 7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds).

Across two different sports, it might appear the British athlete notches a new achievement or record every time she steps onto a lifting platform lately.

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

[Related: How To Do The Arnold Press For Fully Developed Shoulders]

The Near Future

Lovelace plans to keep busy as an active competitor this summer. The strongwoman will compete at the 2022 Berkshire’s Strongest Man & Woman contest on July 16, 2022, in Berkshire, England. She has stated that she plans to officially surpass her traditional deadlift World Record at the contest.

In accordance with her recent history, Lovelace may add another top figure to the record books simultaneously.

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Watch Rhianon Lovelace Axle Press 7.5 Kilograms More Than the Current Lightweight World Record appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On June 7, 2022, Lovelace shared footage of herself locking out a 240-kilogram (528-pound) axle bar deadlift in a training session. Lovelace did not disclose precisely when this deadlift happened. The figure unofficially exceeds Lovelace’s own axle deadlift World Record of 233.5 kilograms (515 pounds) from mid-May 2022. Lovelace wore lifting straps and a lifting suit for the pull. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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Lovelace completes the axle deadlift relatively easily. She alludes to that reality in her Instagram post, saying it was “piss-easy.” The main distinction between an axle bar deadlift and a deadlift with a traditional barbell is that the axle bar is several inches thicker, which tests an athlete’s grip strength even more than a “normal” deadlift. There’s also no flex in an axle bar, making the weight feel harder throughout the entirety of the lift. 

Notably, Lovelace is the current British raw traditional deadlift record holder with a pull of 241 kilograms (530 pounds). She achieved that mark at the 2022 British Powerlifting Union (BPU) Single Lift British Championships. That Lovelace can excel so well with both deadlift bars is a testament to her power. 

A Surprise Setback

Unfortunately for Lovelace, she couldn’t bask in her axle deadlift training feat as much as she might have wanted to.

Per her Instagram caption, the British athlete went to the hospital with pneumonia about two days after her staggering axle bar pull. As a result, Lovelace withdrew her apparent official attempt at the axle deadlift World Record that was going to take place on the weekend of June 10-12, 2022. 

“Feels absolutely pants to do, just a really [expletive] feeling,” Lovelace wrote. “But after being discharged from the hospital last week with a severe case of pneumonia, we’re left with no other sensible option. I genuinely thought I was just run down with back-to-back records, with a tough cough, but things went south pretty quickly, and I ended up not in a great way in the hospital.”

[Related: Deloading 101: What Is A Deload And How Do You Do It?]

In the aftermath of her bout with pneumonia, Lovelace says she lost eight percent of her (undisclosed) bodyweight. That might throw a wrench into the rest of her competitive year in 2022. In the near purview, Lovelace has a spot in the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival UK on September 23-25, 2022, in Birmingham, England. At the time of this writing, it is unclear if she will still move forward with those plans.

However, it doesn’t seem like she’s letting this step back ruin her long-term goals. 

“I’m hopeful of another deadlift attempt this year, but right now, I’m unsure if full competitions come into this season for me,” Lovelace wrote. “I’ll get to work, I know what I need to do, but these things can’t be rushed. When I’m ready, I’ll be back.”

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Rhianon Lovelace Exceeds Axle Deadlift World Record With 240-Kilogram (528-Pound) Pull appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On May 21-22, 2022, Lovelace competed in the 2022 British Powerlifting Union (BPU) Single Lift British Championships. Per the strongwoman, she had entered the meet at the “last minute.” That appears to have been a great decision as Lovelace deadlifted 230 kilograms (507 pounds) on her second attempt to break the British raw deadlift record.

If breaking the record initially wasn’t enough, Lovelace used her third attempt to extend it by pulling 241 kilograms (530 pounds). That is heavier than the British deadlift record across any weight class, according to Open Powerlifting. Lovelace donned just a lifting belt for that third pull and completed it from a conventional stance. 

Check out that staggering third deadlift pull, via Lovelace’s Instagram profile:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

[Related: Strongwoman Nadia Stowers Deadlifts 238 Kilograms (525 Pounds) For A 3-Rep PR]

At the time of writing, since Lovelace usually features in strongwoman competitions, it is unclear what weight class she competed in as a powerlifter. The athlete typically competes at 64 kilograms in strongwoman, and the BPU has a 67.5-kilogram weight class. That said, Lovelace’s deadlift record will go down officially under whatever weight class she competed in. In a single-lift or full competition, it’s the heaviest deadlift by any woman in any weight class.

Lovelace’s powerlifting deadlift record comes on the heels of another recent deadlift record but as a strongwoman. On May 14, 2022, during the 2022 Clash Pro Series Clash of the 64’s, she set a new lightweight world record on the axle bar deadlift by pulling 233.5 kilograms (515 pounds). The pull helped Lovelace eventually capture that competition’s overall win. 

Notably, there is a vital distinction between deadlifts in powerlifting and strongwoman competitions.

In a strongwoman meet, athletes can use straps and a hitch — where they can rest their barbell on their quads after pulling it above their knees. By contrast, powerlifters must completely lock their rep out without that rest, and they cannot use straps. That Lovelace can seamlessly work between both competitive guidelines and still break the British record could be a testament to her strength and prowess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

[Related: Strongwoman Inez Carrasquillo’s Overhead Pressing Is On A Different Level]

What’s Next

After her stellar performance in the 2022 Single Lift British Championships, Lovelace seems to hint in the caption of her Instagram post that she could make an earnest attempt as a powerlifter again. Per the athlete, this BPU meet had marked the end of a five-year powerlifting absence. 

“Haven’t prepped for this, was totally unsure what to open with as I deadlift with straps and a hitch (strongwoman),” Lovelace wrote. “But super excited to see what’s possible with a good peak!

If Lovelace is indeed jumping back in more often as a powerlifter soon, time will only tell what stellar achievements she’s capable of with more preparation beforehand. 

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Rhianon Lovelace Records 241-Kilogram (530-Pound) Deadlift, Breaks British Raw Deadlift Record appeared first on Breaking Muscle.