Elite deadlifter Enahoro Asein of Hungary burst onto the international scene at the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) 2021 Classic World Championships (CWC), where he took part in an epic three-way tussle for the 83-kilogram class raw deadlift world record. The record was broken four times at that contest by three different lifters: Asein, Russel Orhii, and Yanis Bouchou. The record stood at 331 kilograms (730 pounds) before that and Asein has been adding chunks to it ever since.

Entering the 2023 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Championships (ECC), in Tartu, Estonia, it stood at an impressive 370.5 kilograms (817 pounds). However, Asein left that in the dust. He missed a raw world attempt at 373 kilograms (822 pounds) on his second deadlift but then loaded up the number needed to win — a monstrous 380 kilograms (838 pounds). Check it out in the video below, courtesy of the IPF Instagram page:

Using only a lifting belt, Asein set up in a sumo stance, bent to the barbell, and started to pull. The bar leaped from the floor and went nearly all the way to lock out in a heartbeat. Asein leaned back to complete the lift and received the down command from the center referee. After returning the bar to the platform, Asein looked around for the referee’s lights and rolled onto his back while waiting for the decision. When Asein saw the three white lights, he jumped to his feet and bellowed in triumph. An incredible deadlift that brought the crowd to their feet, cheering his success.

2023 EPF European Classic Powerlifting Championships Results – Enahoro Asein (Hungary) 83KG

• Squat
  • 265 kilograms (584 pounds)
  • 277.5 kilograms (612 pounds)
  • 282.5 kilograms (622 pounds)
• Bench Press
  • 147.5 kilograms (325 pounds)
  • 155 kilograms (342 pounds)
  • 155 kilograms (342 pounds)
• Deadlift
  • 355 kilograms (783 pounds)
  • 373 kilograms (822 pounds)
  • 380 kilograms (838 pounds) — New IPF Open World Record
• Total — 812.5 kilograms (1,791 pounds)

The lift came at the end of a fierce battle with Great Britain’s Jurins Kengamu. Kengamu was a long way in the lead at sub-total, but Asein laid in wait, as deadlifters do, and jumped ahead with his opening deadlift.

Asein called for a world record of 373 kilograms (822 pounds) for his second attempt, but the barbell came up awkwardly, and he couldn’t finish it. This gave Kengamu the opportunity to reclaim the lead. Kegamu converted his second and third deadlifts perfectly, giving Asein a mountain to climb for gold.

Asein was up to the challenge, though. He selected the 380 kilograms (838 pounds) needed to match Kengamu’s total, thereby taking the overall win on body weight. As ambitious as this looked, having missed 373 kilograms (822 pounds), Asein made the new raw world record lift look easy. It’s impossible to say exactly where his top end is, but this did not seem to be it.

The 2023 ECC concludes on Dec. 9, 2023. Catch the action live, for free, on the EPF’s YouTube channel.

Featured image: @theipf on Instagram