When an elite powerlifter goes beast mode on a heavy deadlift, it is usually worth a second (or third, fourth, and fifth) look. On Aug. 13, 2022, Kheycie Romero took to her Instagram page and shared a video wherein she deadlifted 238.1 kilograms (525 pounds) for a set of five reps unbroken.
For the lift, Romero wore a lifting belt and lifting straps and utilized a sumo stance. She forewent the use of knee sleeves, and her barbell speed was in the ‘blink, and you’ll miss it’ territory. Romero did not share her body weight at the time of the set, but for context, 238.1 kilograms (525 pounds) is 26.9 kilograms (59.3 pounds) shy of her competition-best deadlift, according to Open Powerlifting.
Check out Romero’s unbroken deadlift set below:
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Higher volume sets appear to be a significant part of Romero’s current programming. Since mid-July 2022, when training deadlifts, Romero has filmed herself performing many heavy unbroken sets. On July 16, 2022, she locked out 240 kilograms (529 pounds) for a set of four. On Aug. 6, 2022, she pulled 224.5 kilograms (495 pounds) for a set of five. On July 23, 2022, she pulled a top raw single of 247.2 kilograms (545 pounds).
According to Open Powerlifting, Romero last stepped on a sanctioned powerlifting platform on Sept. 25, 2021, at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) The Bucked Up Showdown in the raw 90-kilogram class. She ranked second overall with the following stats, which include her competition best bench press and deadlift:
2021 WRPF Bucked Up Showdown Results — Kheycie Romero
- Squat — 185 kilograms (407.9 pounds)
- Bench Press
- 110 kilograms (242.5 pounds)
- 115 kilograms (253.5 pounds)
- 120 kilograms (264.6 pounds)
- Deadlift
- 255 kilograms (562.2 pounds)
- 265 kilograms (584.2 pounds)
273.5 kilograms (603 pounds)
- Total — 570 kilograms (1,256.6 pounds)
Since making her competitive powerlifting debut in the 75-kilogram weight class at the 2017 USPA Battle of the Bay 3 at age 23, Romero has appeared in seven sanctioned meets across four different weight classes — 75, 82.5, 90, and +90-kilograms. She has never finished worse than second. Of her seven competitions, she won four of them and finished in the silver-medal position in the remaining three — a win percentage of 57.1 percent.
Featured image: @kheycie on Instagram
