Bodybuilder and all-around strong guy Joe Mackey has officially reached the 900-pound deadlift milestone. On Apr. 16, 2022, the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open competitor completed the lift at Destination in Dallas, TX. Mackey’s new PR is undoubtedly one of the heaviest ever deadlifts achieved by a professional bodybuilder.
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“It was not the prettiest but I told you and myself I was going to do it and I did just that,” Mackey wrote in the caption of the video. “If you look midway through the lift you’ll see I shake my head no because doubt kicked in and I said drop it, but that wasn’t going to happen without a fight.”
At the bottom of the post’s caption, Mackey dedicates the new PR to the late Cedric McMillan, who was reported to be dead on April 12, 2022. Shortly after the news broke, Mackey revealed a series of messages that McMillan sent him, praising his heavy lifts but cautioning him to “please be careful” and to “gain weight and get fat” so his body is better supported for moving such heavy weight.
“I appreciate it, big bro,” Mackey replied to McMillan. “I’m going to go for the goal in the deadlift and then I’ll back off the extreme heavy weight.”
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Mackey wore lifting straps and a belt to complete the pull and was intensely shaking during the back half of the lift. While Mackey’s deadlift would not have counted in a powerlifting meet, due to the hitching, it would’ve been green-lit in a strongman show.
En route to his monumental goal, Mackey has shared various milestones along the way. On Jan. 15, 2022, he pulled 800 pounds for a triple. That set was shared by ESPN in an Instagram post of their own shortly after.
On Feb. 21, 2022, Mackey posted another video where he performed an 870-pound top lift. He revealed in that post that the lift was a personal record for him at that time. Less than two months later, he has added another 30 pounds to that lift.
There’s no archive or record book for bodybuilders who lift heavy weights, but it’s possible that Mackey is the first IFBB Pro League bodybuilder to pull 900 pounds. Mackey references the legendary Ronnie Coleman in his post — “900 solid-ass pounds” — who is known for both his bodybuilding success and heavy gym lifts. Coleman has deadlifted and squatted 800 pounds for two reps each.
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Coincidentally, Mackey works with Coleman’s former coach, Chad Nicholls, when he prepares for bodybuilding shows. As for his heavy offseason training as of late, he credited strength coach Josh Bryan for helping make the massive lift happen.
There is no official word on when Mackey’s next contest will be as of this writing. He will have to win a show or place high in several shows to earn enough points if he wants to qualify for the 2022 Mr. Olympia, scheduled for Dec. 16-18 in Las Vegas, NV.
Featured Video: @jmackey33_ifbbpro
