The WSM didn’t even need to make use of a lifting strap.
Strongman athlete Martins Licis has several accolades to his credit. The 2019 World’s Strongest Man can be the 2021 Rogue Invitational winner and the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic champion. Licis is all the time testing his strength in alternative ways, and his recent trip to Gold’s Gym Venice in California included putting his grip to the test against the world famous Golden Dumbbells.
As seen on the 8:56 mark within the Youtube video posted on Licis’ channel, he managed to perform a single-arm row with one among the 150-kilogram (330-pound) dumbbells for a fast first rep, followed by two more reps after a really transient pause to re-grip the burden. Watching from behind was Licis’ mentor and renowned grip strength legend Odd Haugen. After an unspecified rest period, Licis then did a second set, getting five reps. Each sets were performed with only chalk on his hands and without assistance from a lifting strap.
Licis and his business partner, Romark Weiss, originally went to the enduring bodybuilding gym with a challenge of getting members try and lift the legendary Thomas Inch Dumbbell to a standing position using just one hand. The legendary Inch Dumbbell weighs 77 kilograms (170 kilos) and has a handle nearly two and a half inches thick. Licis offered $100 to any individual that could complete the difficult lift, and two men managed to perform that feat.
There is no such thing as a official list of people who have lifted with the Golden Dumbbells, but amongst those who have done so on camera include 2022 Arnold Classic UK bodybuilding champion Andrew Jacked and social media personality Jake Johns (a.k.a. Big Boy), who performed a single-arm row for 10 reps with the dumbbell. Nevertheless, they used straps while Licis didn’t.
Licis is coming off a busy 2022 season that saw him win the Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, OH in March, followed by a second-place finish to Tom Stoltman on the 2022 World’s Strongest Man contest in Sacramento, CA. Licis then took fourth place on the 2022 Rogue Invitational strongman contest in Texas. The champion at that event was Oleksii Novikov.
Licis’ 2023 plans are still to be determined. He had previously said that he would really like to pursue difficult world records, and he’s unsure if he’ll enter any major contests. His most up-to-date contest appearance was a brief notice entry in November 2022 to interchange Robert Oberst because the captain of Team USA against Team UK on the 2022 Giants Live World’s Strongest Nation contest. Team UK, captained by 2017 World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall, won that competition.
Featured Image: @martinslicis on Instagram