Drake Slattery, 16 years old from American Fork High School (Utah), set a new deadlift world record.
Weighing in at just 132 pounds, Slattery set a new record in his weight class by lifting 423 pounds in 2023. United States Powerlifting Nationals on July 10 in Las Vegas.
Slattery said Heather W. Smith at ABC4 Utah that he works out 4-6 times a week, but has other interests, including skiing, which has inspired him to take up weightlifting.
“There was something about it, it was different. It felt special to me… Every time I hit something like a new max or a new thing, or I was able to rep a weight more than I was able to in the past, it gave me a sense of accomplishment and really helped my confidence and my helped me feel a lot better about myself.”
Slattery will then compete this fall in London, where he will attempt to break his own deadlift record by lifting 450 pounds, before competing for the World Junior Squat Record.
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