Clarence Kennedy is a vault of lifting riches. On Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, the former competitive Olympic lifter published a new all-time heaviest snatch to social media — 190 kilograms, or 418.8 pounds.
Not only is it a world-class lift from one of the strongest recreational weightlifters on the planet, but it’s also a personal milestone for the Irish athlete. Kennedy notes that he’d attempted the weight dozens of times in the past before finally making it happen:
[Related: Weightlifter Nina Sterckx Sets New Clean & Jerk and Total Junior World Records]
According to his caption, Kennedy had taken well over 30 separate cracks at the big 190 before he successfully made it on his first attempt during the workout pictured.
Speaking to BarBend via text, Kennedy confirmed that this video was filmed back in 2017 and that, at the time, he was training around a body weight of 100 kilograms (220.4 pounds).
How It Stacks Up
Despite successfully locking it out overhead, Kennedy’s 190-kilogram snatch would not have passed judgement in a sanctioned weightlifting competition since he used lifting straps.
However, while straps do aid in keeping your hand firmly secured on the barbell, they don’t lift the weight for you. A 190-kilogram snatch at 100 kilos of body weight would comfortably be considered a podium-quality lift at even the toughest weightlifting meets.
Here are some of the winning snatches from recent prominent meets in the 96 and 102-kilogram categories:
- 2021 World Weightlifting Championships 96KG: 187KG, Lesman Paredes Montaño (COL)
- 2021 World Weightlifting Championships 102KG: 180KG, Jin Yun-seong (KOR)
- 2022 European Weightlifting Championships 96KG: 171KG, Davit Hovhannisyan (ARM)
- 2022 European Weightlifting Championships 102KG: 177KG, David Fischerov (BUL)
- 2020 Tokyo Olympics 109KG: 193KG, Akbar Djuraev (UZB)
For reference, here are the current snatch World Records in the two categories in closest proximity to Kennedy’s weight at the time:
- 96KG World Record: 187KG, Lesman Paredes Montaño (COL)
- 102KG World Standard*: 191KG, unclaimed
- 109KG World Record: 200KG, Yang Zhe (CHN)
*The World Standard is a theoretical benchmark. It was put in place in 2018 when the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) reorganized their competition classes in an effort to curb drug use in the sport.
As a final tidbit, Kennedy’s snatch would’ve also won gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in the now-defunct 94 and 105-kilogram categories. His claim of 30+ prior attempts may sound like an exaggeration, but it is in line with Kennedy’s approach to recreational weightlifting.
If you want proof, look no further than this video in which he attempts a 186-kilogram snatch no less than 15 times in a single workout:
From the Vault
Kennedy has a brief resume as an IWF competitor. He partook in the European Junior Championships in 2012 and 2013, but since then has pivoted to a career as a recreational lifter, social media content creator, and coach.
However, it’s clear that he doesn’t need an upcoming competition to motivate him to train hard in the gym. Kennedy leaks a big lift onto the internet a few times a year, and they always garner attention. Kennedy may yet have an even heavier snatch waiting in the wings — only time will tell.
Featured Image: @clarencekennedy_ on Instagram
