Deadlift specialist Brian Le has an incredible pull. In the 66-kilogram class, Le has achieved the highest deadlift and total ever seen in the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). He shows no signs of slowing down.
In a recent video published to Le’s Instagram page on Jan. 9, 2024, Le hit a personal best deadlift of 320 kilograms (705.5 pounds) — a whopping 12.5 kilograms (27.5 pounds) over the current IPF world record of 307.5 kilograms (677.9 pounds) by Tran Tuan Hien in the 66-kilogram class. Check out Le’s lift below:
Le deadlifts with a wide sumo stance. In the video, he initially appears to be beltless, but at the end, he performs a small gesture at his waist as though unclipping a belt underneath his T-shirt. Le typically uses a lifting belt to deadlift, so it would make sense that he wore one for this PR.
At the 2023 Powerlifting America (PA) Raw Nationals, Le hit an incredible 318.5-kilogram (702-pound) deadlift, giving him a 713.5-kilogram (1,573-pound) total. That secured his place at the top of the 66-kilogram class rankings in the IPF.
As international records cannot be set at national meets, Le traveled to Malta for the 2023 IPF Classic World Championships (CWC), where he was expected to send the deadlift world record into orbit. However, international lifting brings its own challenges.
Although Le chipped the world record by half a kilo (one pound) with his opening deadlift of 300.5 kilograms (662.5 pounds), he suffered forearm cramps and did not secure any attempts on the board thereafter. That left Le to settle for the overall silver, as he was 10 kilograms (22 pounds) behind Panagiotis Tarinidis of France.
Since then, the deadlift world record has been broken twice; first by USA’s Kyle Nowak and then by Canada’s Tuan Hien Tran, setting it at 307.5 kilograms (677.9 pounds) at the IPF Junior World Championships in Romania.
Le is prepping for the PA Raw Nationals in Reno, Nevada, on March 14, 2024. He will compete for the national title and a place on the American team at the 2024 IPF CWC in Lithuania. Lithuania is Le’s next opportunity to further deadlift world record and take a shot at his first world title.
Featured image: @brian_le_ on Instagram
