Certainly one of powerlifting’s more prolific athletes is gearing as much as shine once more.
A look at Blake Lehew’s resume will show that this athlete doesn’t shrink back from competition. In over a decade-plus of pulling, pressing, and squatting massive weights on sanctioned lifting platforms, Lehew can boast 60 separate contest appearances to his name. If his latest work in training is any indication, his next moment within the highlight may very well be quite memorable.
On Nov. 12, 2022, Lehew (82.5KG) posted an Instagram clip of himself capturing a raw 235-kilogram (518-pound) bench press. In line with the caption of Lehew’s post, it’s a recent personal record (PR). While unofficial, the training feat can be just 2.6 kilograms (5.7 kilos) shy of Maliek Derstine’s all-time raw World Record of 237.5 kilograms (523.6 kilos) within the 82.5-kilogram weight class. Lehew accomplished this feat without the assistance of another equipment and performed the press while barefoot.
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Lehew’s bench press work is connected to an upcoming powerlifting competition roughly three weeks from the time of his clip. The identical could be said for a 395-kilogram (870.8-pound) raw deadlift PR roughly per week before. Note: In line with Open Powerlifting, that pulling mark, if transferred over to an official contest, would surpass Lehew’s all-time World Record of 382.5 kilograms (843.2 kilos) within the 82.5-kilogram division. He achieved that figure on the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Hybrid Showdown 4.
On the time of this writing, without more specifics, it’s unclear what the competition is and precisely when it should happen. Lehew’s diverse competitive history inside organizations just like the USPA, the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF), USA Powerlifting (USAPL), and the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) makes it possible he could lift under any of those umbrellas in early December 2022.
No matter where or when he competes, it seems likely Lehew will flourish. The 27-year-old has won five straight contests dating back to April 2021 and eight of 10 competitions since March 2019.
Here’s an summary of a few of Lehew’s more notable recent competitive results:
Blake Lehew | Recent Competitive Profession Results
- 2015-2016 USAPL Raw Nationals (Raw/Juniors) — First place
- 2016 USAPL Collegiate Nationals (Raw/College) — First place
- 2016, 2018 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships (Raw/Juniors) — First place
- 2019 USPA The Tribute (Raw/Open) — First place
- 2019 USPA Bend The Bar (Raw/Open) — First place
- 2021 WRPF Kern US Open (Wraps/Open) — First place
- 2022 USPA Hybrid Showdown 4 (Raw/Open) — First place | All-Time World Record Deadlift
- 2022 WRPF American Pro (Wraps/Open) — First place
- 2022 USPA Pro Raw Championships (Raw/Open) — First place
Here’s a rundown of Lehew’s all-time raw competition bests:
Blake Lehew | All-Time Raw Competition Bests
- Squat — 305 kilograms (672.4 kilos)
- Bench Press — 227.5 kilograms (501.5 kilos)
- Deadlift — 382.5 kilograms (843.2 kilos) | 82.5KG All-Time Raw World Record
- Total — 910 kilograms (2006.2 kilos)
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Lehew is slowly but surely constructing toward one other potential exemplary performance. With a couple of more weeks of strength refinement on the horizon, the athlete could have his best in store when he competes next month.
Featured image: @deadliftingorangutan on Instagram