British powerlifter Dave Richardson is well-established as a driving force in the 125KG class. He’s a great all-rounder, but the lift that has been improving the quickest is his deadlift.
As recently as August 2023, Richardson’s best deadlift in competition was 397.5 kilograms. He swept that number away at the Nottingham Strong Qualifier in January 2024 with a massive 420-kilogram pull. However, Richardson did not pause to rest on his laurels.
On March 28, 2024, Richardson shared a training update to his Instagram page in which he locked out a staggering 430 kilograms. Take a look at this colossal lift below:
View this post on Instagram
Richardson deadlifts with a conventional stance and utilizes a relatively narrow foot positioning for a heavyweight lifter. Using a lifting belt to increase intra-abdominal pressure, he took the barbell in a mixed grip.
The bar moved quickly from the floor, but there was a moment of hesitation at the top before Richardson achieved full lockout. He threw the bar down triumphally, which would draw red lights in competition but does not invalidate a gym lift.
The post also included a squat session in which Richardson makes short work of 372.5 kilograms for a triple in knee wraps. The depth and speed were on point, and Richardson looks in good shape in his prep.
Richardson is preparing to compete at the ABS Clash of the Titans 2 in Dublin, Ireland, on April 20, 2024. The event is billed as “The Strongest Show in Europe” based on total weight lifted rather than weight class or formula.
Richardson took the silver medal in 2023 with a 1,015-kilogram total. In 2024, Richardson recently posted a 1,070-kilogram total — a weight that would have easily won in 2023.
Richardson will face 2023’s winner, Fernando Arias, who also won the 140KG class at the 2023 WRPF American Pro 2, and one of South Africa’s strongest sons, Nicolaas du Preez. However, the big news is that USA’s Dan Bell is making a rare trip abroad, and anyone planning on lifting the winner’s belt at the end of the contest must beat the man with the all-time total world record — 1,182.5 kilograms.
The competition will occur on April 20, 2024, and can be watched on the ABS Powerlifting YouTube channel.
Featured image: @sirdave___ on Instagram
