Long had a weekend to recollect throughout.
It’d be hard to top the weekend of March 2-5, 2023 for Victoria Long. While the strongwoman captured her second consecutive Arnold Strongwoman Classic (ASC) title in Columbus, OH, she notched a remarkable feat in the method. On the second day of competition, Long set a latest World Record by completing an Elephant Bar Deadlift of 295.2 kilograms (651 kilos). It was quite the option to put a cherry on top of a fruitful performance.
The Elephant Bar deadlift was introduced by Rogue Fitness and made its debut in the course of the 2016 ASC, though it didn’t have a record amongst strongwomen competitors until 2020. An Elephant Bar is a specialized barbell manufactured by Rogue Fitness. The ten-foot length is significantly longer than a standard barbell, which allows the bar to bend as an athlete pulls through the range of motion. The prolonged distance also adds “whip” to the lockout position because the weights rebound barely from momentum. Overall, this mixture makes the lift uniquely difficult in comparison with other deadlift variations.
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A little bit later within the competition, Tenth-place ASC finisher Tamara Walcott would match Long’s mark by pulling equivalent weight. In the course of the 2022 Rogue Record Breakers, Walcott had previously set the Elephant Bar Deadlift record with a pull of 290.7 kilograms (641 kilos) on the 2022 ASC. The athlete has now added 4.5 kilograms (10 kilos) to her all-time best number. Each competitors utilized lifting belts for support. Long applied lifting straps, that are in abidance with Strongwoman rules, to help with the milestone.
Notably, Walcott opted not to make use of any grip support, likely owing to her experience as a competitive powerlifter where straps will not be permitted. Nonetheless, fans and commentators were notably surprised by Walcott’s significant struggle to realize a decisive lockout in comparison with Long’s apparent ease with the record lift. Nonetheless, for Long and Walcott to placed on a show with this variation of a barbell stays impressive.
On a wide-spanning competitive level, Long’s victory and record-setting performance are nothing latest for the strongwoman superstar. In accordance with Strongman Archives, the athlete has only ever fallen in need of a win once in six profession contests — her competitive debut on the 2019 World’s Strongest Woman (WSW) contest. Ever since, Long has maintained a spotless resume including two America’s Strongest Woman titles (2021, 2022), the 2022 Shaw Classic championship, and now two consecutive ASC titles.
As for Walcott, after a disappointing competitive strongwoman debut, matching the Elephant Bar Deadlift record was likely a welcome option to finish. Transitioning from powerlifting to strongwoman and vice versa will be difficult for athletes. For Walcott to search out a option to maximize her initial appearance could speak volumes of massive improvements should she proceed in strongwoman competitions. For added context on prowess in her first skilled strength sport, in keeping with Open Powerlifting, Walcott has not lost a powerlifting competition since October 2019.
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Long can have enjoyed the victory en path to her second title win. To notch a World Record in a prestigious contest shouldn’t be insignificant and speaks to the growing power of one of the formidable women competitors in strength sports.
Featured image: @roguefitness on Instagram