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On August 2, 2022, strongwoman Lucy Underdown set out for what was supposed to be a routine deadlift training session. Instead, as the athlete said she was “feeling in good form” after a few reps, Underdown eventually deadlifted 302.5 kilograms (667 pounds). The strength mark unofficially exceeds Underdown’s own Strongwoman Open Deadlift World Record by 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds).
An Open competitor, Underdown possesses the official World Record figure with a pull of 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds) at the 2021 UK’S Strongest Man contest. Underdown made a special appearance in the Men’s competition to set the record and became the first strongwoman to deadlift at least 300 kilograms.
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Underdown completed her deadlift using a conventional stance and lifting straps while wearing a lifting belt. Seeing how she’s a professional strongwoman, Underdown used what would be a legal hitch to rest her loaded barbell on her thighs for a moment before completing the pull.
Underdown’s official record mark is the second-heaviest by a Woman’s athlete in history (powerlifting or strongwoman). Powerlifter Becca Swanson (+90KG) holds the all-time heaviest deadlift with an equipped pull of 315 kilograms (694.5 pounds) at the 2005 World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) WPO European SemiFinals. Powerlifter Tamara Walcott (+90KG) possesses the third-heaviest deadlift of all time with a 290-kilogram (639.3-pound) raw pull at the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro.
Notably, powerlifters like Swanson and Walcott cannot use lifting straps and cannot hitch the weight on their thighs at any time.
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Underdown at a Glance
Underdown has only been a competitive strongwoman for the better part of two years. Yet she’s already one of the sport’s elite athletes with just three competitions to her name.
According to Strongman Archives, Underdown finished in seventh place in her first career contest at the 2020 Arnold Amateur Strongwoman World Championships. While she hasn’t won any of her three competitions to date, Underdown has finished on the podium twice — two consecutive bronze medal results in the annual UK’s Strongest Woman competition (2021-2022). Donna Moore won the 2021 edition, while Rebecca Roberts came out on top in 2022.
Per her social media, Underdown will next compete at the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Woman competition. That will occur on August 14, 2022, in Doncaster, England. Underdown has not confirmed her goal is to surpass her deadlift World Record at the competition. Nonetheless, her recent training achievement makes it clear she could extend her mark while also potentially capturing the first victory of her growing career.
Featured image: @lucyunders_strongwoman on Instagram