Trey Mitchell needed to deadlift seven reps to set a new world record in the 400kg deadlift event but ended up pulling two reps. The 6’4″ 340-pound strongman competed in episode two of season two of the “Feats of Strength” series by World’s Ultimate Strongman (WUS) on Sunday, September 20th, in hopes of besting Rauno Heinla of Estonia, who set a new world record in the same event with six reps.
While Mitchell, who won America’s Strongest Man in 2018, fell five reps short of his goal, there are a few factors that make his attempt impressive nonetheless.
First, Mitchell was drifting into uncharted territory. No one has yet to deadlift 400kg for seven reps, so there was a lot of pressure on the 25-year old to do so. Second, Mitchell chose not to wear a lifting suit — which broke the norm for many of the world record deadlifts in the “Feats of Strength” series. Another unique obstacle for Mitchell, who often trains alone for larger competitions, was that he weighed and loaded all of the weight himself. And loading a barbell with almost 900 pounds is practically a workout on its own. All the other strongmen that have competed thus far in this event had helpers load the weight for them between lifts. You can check out the entire episode below courtesy of WUS’s YouTube channel:
[Related: Check Out Strongman Trey Mitchell Deadlift a 367kg/830 lbs Axle Bar Triple]
After seeing several of the top strongmen in the world fail to hit six reps in “Feats of Strength” season one, many believed, including strongman and “Feats of Strength” commentator Laurence Shahlaei, that lifting seven reps was a “big ask” of Mitchell.
I think Rauno’s record is going to be safe this week, I really do.
Shahlaei’s prediction was correct. Mitchell’s two reps matched Konstantine Janashia’s two reps from episode one, season two. In the prior episodes from season one, Jerry Pritchett, Adam Bishop, and J.F. Caron managed to get four reps.
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Mitchell had a slow first rep and turned it into a double before failing to get the bar past his shins on rep three. Official referee and four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Žydrūnas Savickas did not have to make any calls as Mitchell ended the event himself after trying a second time for a third rep. The bar wouldn’t budge.
“I expected more out of myself, but I’m really glad I gave it my all,” Mitchell said in a post lift interview. He seemed to be in high spirits despite not hitting his goal in the event and admitted he deals with nerves competing on the camera.
Currently, Mitchell does not have any upcoming events scheduled, but he is an alternate for the 2020 World’s Strongest Man competition, which takes place on November 11-15th in Bradenton, Florida.
Feature image from World’s Ultimate Strongman’s YouTube channel.
