Another powerlifter closing in on a potential 500-kilogram deadlift has entered the chat. Krzysztof Wierzbicki of Poland took to his Instagram stories to share a video wherein he scored a 461-kilogram (1,016.3-pound) deadlift triple in training. He performed all three reps in a sumo stance with lifting straps and an overhand grip.
Wierzbicki is notorious for insanely heavy deadlifts in the 110-kilogram class — the weight class he has competed in since April 2021, according to Open Powerlifting. While the Polish powerlifter didn’t immortalize his monstrous deadlift triple in a post on his social media, Julian Howard (also known as World’s Strongest Fan), captured the video and shared it on his Instagram page. Check it out below:
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Wierzbicki is no stranger to gravity-defying deadlifts. Per Open Powerlifting, he holds the all-time world record raw deadlifts in the 100-kilogram and 110-kilogram weight classes. At 100 kilograms, Wierzbicki successfully hit the current 433.5-kilogram (955.7-pound) raw deadlift record at the 2020 National Alliance of Powerlifters (NAP) Siberian Championships.
Notably, Wierzbicki’s 110-kilogram deadlift record was not performed in a full power meet, but rather the 2021 WRPF-POL Mistrzostwa Polski, where he locked out 447.5 kilograms (986.6 pounds). The current world record (from a full power meet) belongs to Jamal Browner, who lifted 440.5 kilograms (971.1 pounds) at the 2020 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown II.
Speaking of Browner, he has teased lifting towards potentially challenging the all-time world deadlift record of 501 kilograms (1,104.5 pounds) held by former strongman turned boxer Hafthor “The Mountain” Björnsson. Browner recently transitioned to conventional deadlift training which furthers the speculation that he may attempt an all-time world record.
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Wierzbicki’s target isn’t a secret. The top line of his bio on his Instagram page reads “ROAD TO 500KG DEADLIFT.” A titanic difference between the sensational training lifts Wierzbicki and Browner have been hitting in the gym is doing so without a deadlift suit. Björnsson and 2017 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Eddie Hall are the only two humans to ever deadlift at least 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds), but both did so equipped — wearing lifting suits and straps — and from a conventional stance.
While Browner’s recent training is suggestive that if he were to attempt a 500-kilogram deadlift, it would potentially be in a conventional stance, Wierzbicki is more of a mystery. His goal of entering the 500-kilogram deadlift club is clear, but how he will do so when he attempts it is doused in speculation.
It seems to challenge for Björnsson’s all-time world record deadlift, Wierzbicki needs to pull in a conventional stance. However, if he intends to be the first powerlifter to ever deadlift 500 kilograms in a sanctioned powerlifting meet, he is well on his way.
Featured image:@worldsstrongestfan on Instagram
