Browner continues to showcase his dominant pulling.
Jamal Browner has made a reputation for himself as a powerlifter collecting competitive victories and World Records, particularly showcasing his deadlift prowess. On Sept. 2, 2023, he explored the challenge of a latest strength sport by competing on the World Deadlift Championship (WDC) performed under strongman contest rules.
Just seven days after his appearance on the WDC, Browner returned to the gym for a “YOLO” deadlift training session — his annual personal tradition after a serious contest. On Sept. 9, 2023, Browner posted a video on his YouTube channel documenting his attempt at a weight that no athlete within the history of any strength sport has successfully accomplished.
Browner, who competes within the 109.7-kilogram (242-pound) powerlifting class, is seen tackling a 510-kilogram (1,124-pound) on two separate attempts, followed by an attempt at 505 kilograms (1,113 kilos).
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Within the training video, Browner is first shown performing progressively heavier warm-up sets. He began at 120 kilograms (265 kilos) before moving through 220 kilograms (485 kilos), 320 kilograms (705 kilos), 370 kilograms (815 kilos), 420 kilograms (925 kilos), and eventually 460 kilograms (1,015 kilos). After completing the primary set, he wore lifting straps and a weightlifting belt for the remaining lifts.
Browner then made the enthusiastic decision to leap to 510 kilograms (1,124 kilos). He lifted the barbell off the bottom relatively quickly before stalling at his knees. On his second attempt at 510 kilograms, Browner is seen with talcum powder across his thighs to cut back friction and aid the lift (a typical technique in powerlifting).
He was capable of get the bar barely higher on his knees before returning the load to the bottom, where he quickly unstrapped his grip and walked off the platform while speaking with spectators within the gym. By his demeanor, one might mistakenly think that the hassle of lifting greater than a half-ton wasn’t all too exhausting for the strength athlete.
The ultimate attempt of the day was 505 kilograms (1,113 kilos). Browner was capable of easily bring the bar to only above his knees before hitting a wall and struggling for several transient seconds before replacing the bar on the bottom. Browner later stated that each one three attempts were performed over a 30-minute period.
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Unsuccessful lifts are potentially less exciting and dramatic than fully locked out repetitions. Nonetheless, what sets Browner other than the deadlifting pack, except for the sheer weight itself, are the conditions under which he performed. In training for the WDC, Browner spent nearly 4 months lifting with a traditional deadlift stance as a consequence of the strongman ruleset.
Browner’s previous heaviest successful deadlifts, including a 455-kilogram (1,003-pound) deadlift in competition and a 500-kilogram (1,102-pound) deadlift in training, were performed with a sumo deadlift stance. The recent “YOLO” session was only his second time returning to the broader stance in roughly 15 weeks and, as he stated within the video, his technique has yet to return to 100%.
Browner previously attempted a 510-kilogram deadlift during a “YOLO” session roughly two weeks after his performance on the 2022 USPA Pro Raw Championships. In that attempt, he lifted the load from the ground but was unable to achieve knee-level.
Top 5 Heaviest Deadlifts of All Time (Captured on Video)
- 502.5 kilograms (1,107 Kilos) — Powerlifter Krzysztof Wierzbicki in training, April 2022
- 501 Kilograms (1,104.5 Kilos) — Strongman Hafthor Bjornsson at 2020 WUS Feats of Strength
- 500 kilograms (1,102.3 Kilos) — Strongman Eddie Hall at 2016 World Deadlift Championship
- 500 kilograms (1,102.3 Kilos) — Powerlifter Jamal Browner in training, Sept. 2022
- 487.5 kilograms (1,074.7 Kilos) — Powerlifter Danny Grigsby at 2022 WRPF American Pro
For further context of Browner’s capabilities, two-time World’s Strongest Man (2021-2022) Tom Stoltman announced plans to try a 505-kilogram deadlift in some unspecified time in the future in 2024. Considered one of the present heaviest all-time deadlifts (501 kilograms) belongs to 2018 World’s Strongest Man Hafthor Bjornsson, who outweighs Browner by greater than 60 kilograms (132 kilos).
Browner has not announced whether his next competitive appearance shall be a powerlifting contest or one other enterprise into strongman. In either case, the ground-breaking 510-kilogram deadlift stays on his radar. Based on Browner, he plans to take 4 or five days rest before attempting the load once more. So the record may fall sooner slightly than later.
Featured Image: Jamal Browner / YouTube