The first major powerlifting meet of the year has come and gone, and with it, old records flittered away as the sport’s elite brought their A-game to the platform. And it was powerlifter and pro bodybuilder Hunter Henderson who set the first World Record at the 2023 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Ghost Clash 2 meet at the Tank Brewing Co. in Miami, FL.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, Henderson broke her own record in the 82.5-kilogram category by squatting 267.5 kilograms (589 pounds) in knee sleeves — a new All-Time World Record. You can see the lift in the YouTube clip below, courtesy of the Professional Powerlifting Championships YouTube channel.
You can see the lift at the 1:54:30 mark in the video below.
Henderson had a smirk on her face as she approached the bar. Once she unracked it, she braced her core and slowly descended with the barbell loaded on her back. Once she reached the hole, she confidently exploded back up with the weight before receiving the rack command.
Henderson went into the meet with the record already in her possession. She lifted 250 kilograms (551 pounds) in January 2022 at the 2022 USPA Hybrid Showdown 4 meet, which was also in Miami.
Henderson broke the record twice at this meet. After opening the meet with a squat of 237.5 kilograms (523.6 pounds), she jumped 20 kilograms to 257.5 kilograms (567.7 pounds) and got the lift. She then wrapped up Flight C of this meet by lifting 267.5 kilograms successfully, which brought the crowd to their feet. All three of Henderson’s squat attempts got three white lights from the judges.
Henderson also holds the world record in the squat with wraps for her weight class with a lift of 305 kilograms (672 pounds), which she set at the 2022 FQ Classic in Las Vegas, NV. Outside of powerlifting, Henderson is also an IFBB Pro League women’s bodybuilder. She won her first amateur strongwoman contest in November 2022.
The commentators announced during the livestream that the promoters of the meet would award $500 to each lifter for each broken world record. Both day’s livestreams of the meet are available for replay on the Professional Powerlifting Championships YouTube channel.
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Featured Image: Professional Powerlifting Championship on YouTube
