Sherine Marcelle is certainly one of the best powerlifters of all time, but she won’t be competing through the remaining of 2022. As an alternative, per a June 6 post on her Instagram, the 90-kilogram athlete is taking time away from sanctioned lifting platforms to perfect her craft. With every recent eye-opening feat on her social media, it seems the athlete’s training recalibration goes swimmingly. 

On August 28, 2022, Marcelle shared an Instagram video of herself squatting 257.6 kilograms (568 kilos) raw for 2 reps while wearing a lifting belt and knee sleeves. The demonstration of leg strength is a recent personal record (PR) for Marcelle and unofficially exceeds Amanda Lawrence’s Raw World Record within the 90-kilogram division by 4 kilos, set on the 2020 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Gainsgiving Open.

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In response to the caption of Marcelle’s Instagram post, she originally intended only to do one rep of the heavy squat. Nevertheless, because she “wasn’t a fan of the primary rep,” the athlete decided to do one other where she took the squat lower to challenge herself.

Super grateful for all of my peers today for being there for me greater than I used to be for myself. This chapter is the one; this chapter defines me as an athlete and where I’m headed.

The look of apparent determination on Marcelle’s face as she weighs whether to do one other rep might say all of it about this strength achievement. 

Full Steam Ahead

Even while she takes a break from formal competition, Marcelle doesn’t appear to be slowing her ambitions down. The powerlifter has been steadily pushing herself within the gym with some rapid progress of late. 

In late August, in a precursor to her latest leg power achievement, Marcelle captured a (249.9-kilogram) 551-pound squat for 2 reps. Just a few days before that, Marcelle accomplished a 229-kilogram (505-pound) deadlift PR without wearing a lifting belt. And in early June, the athlete notched a 297 kilogram (655-pound) squat with wraps — 6.8 kilograms (15 kilos) greater than Crystal Tate’s current World Record. 

Here’s an outline of Marcelle’s all-time raw competition bests:

Sherine Marcelle (90KG) | All-Time Raw Competition Bests

• Squat — 245 kilograms (540.1 kilos)
• Bench Press —127.5 kilograms (281.1 kilos)
• Deadlift — 227.5 kilograms (501.5 kilos) | Third-Heaviest Squat All-Time (90KG)
• Total — 592.5 kilograms (1,306.2 kilos)

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Each time Marcelle does return to formal competition, it’s clear she’s preparing to place her best-loaded barbell forward. If the 12 months 2022 may be about stepping back with intent for Marcelle, then the 12 months 2023 could resent a flourish that makes the patience repay. 

Featured image: @sincerelysherine on Instagram