Russian powerlifter Vlad Alhazov has been flying under the radar for the past few years, and with good reason: in 2008, his knee caved inward trying to pull off an equipped squat of 590 kilograms (1300 pounds) at Westside Barbell. He needed a complete knee replacement, which would put many powerlifters out of commission for good.
Not Vlad Alhazov.
After years of recovery, he’s back at breaking records. We’re writing today to point out this insane deadlift of 442.5 kilograms, or 975.5 pounds, which he made at a meet called the Eisenhart Challenge in Germany this weekend.
While international powerlifting federations rarely allow wrist straps with their deadlifts — that would make it more of a strongman deadlift, in which Eddie Hall currently holds the world record with 500 kilograms — this may be the heaviest strapped deadlift by an active powerlifter. According to Alhazov himself, it’s the best raw deadlift in Europe and Germany (though we’re not 100% sure about that). And this is with his second knee.
He wrote that he is “very happy with that results.”
Plus, earlier this month, he deadlifted 470 kilograms (1,036lb) off of plates.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ_pqo9BWnu/
Alhazov is a rare breed of powerlifter indeed and while we’re pretty sure his knee wasn’t replaced by some kind of hydraulic engine, the evidence would suggest otherwise. Earlier this year, he made a 500 kilogram raw squat with wraps. This was performed at an IPA meet, and he’s the first human being to have ever managed this much weight with only knee wraps to assist him.
Alhazov never posts clips of his benching, but at this rate, he may be on his way to take a world record total. We’re going to be watching the man closely, but regardless of where he ends up he’s proving some serious inspiration for strength athletes who have undergone knee reconstructions — and the rest of us, too!
Featured image via @vado.a on Instagram.