This weekend, the 2017 CETC US Open Powerlifting Championships took place at Del Mar Fairgrounds, San Diego, and with over $200,000 in cash prizes available, many consider it to be one of the biggest powerlifting events in the world.
There were many stellar performances, but for our money the standout was the 25-year-old Stacy Burr, who beat the all-time world record raw total for the 148-pound weight class by fifty-eight pounds, for a total of 1,333 pounds (604.6 kilograms). Prior to this, the record was 1,275 pounds, set by Eva Dunbar just last month. Burr was awarded second overall in the contest and first in her weight class.
Check out her winning deadlift of 529 pounds (234 kilograms) below, which is one of the most emotionally charged (read: screamy) lifts we’ve seen in some time. The heaviest deadlift Burr had ever pulled prior to this was 485 pounds (220kg). That’s an absolutely insane personal record.
You can see the lift filmed from a different angle in the video below, which shows her celebrating backstage. That’s one of the most amped human beings we’ve ever seen in our lives, and it’s definitely a justified reaction!
Burr hit all nine of her lifts: a 501-pound squat (227.2-kilogram) squat, 303-pound (137.4-kilogram) bench press and the 529-pound deadlift. That makes for a Wilks coefficient of 620. (The Wilks coefficient is an algorithm that compares powerlifting totals across lifters of different weight classes, somewhat analogous Sinclair scores in weightlifting.)
Interestingly enough, she said in a 2016 interview, “I am not concerned with being the all time world record holder in anything honestly. I don’t really even care if I see a #1 by my name on powerlifting watch. My goal as a powerlifter is to continually get better over time.”
Burr wrote on her Instagram this weekend:
Going into the deads I had no idea what I was going to have to pull. People asked me what my third was going to be and I had no idea. I told (my coach, Sean Brownstein) whatever it takes. The heaviest pull I have ever done previous to this was 485. I knew I had to make it happen or die trying. Sometimes it’s not about form or technique, sometimes it is about heart and the will to win… and I have a big heart.
Congratulations to Burr and all the athletes who competed this weekend. With a world record total and the ability to PR her deadlift by forty-four pounds, we can’t wait to see the numbers she’ll put up in the future.
Featured image via @bamaburr on Instagram.
