🏋️ 63-year-old's 628-pound deadlift

NASA recently unveiled the August 29 launch plans for Artemis I, an uncrewed space mission that may pave the way for unprecedented exploration of the moon and beyond. Here's a look at the latest in strength and fitness news that's equally out of this world. 

At 63 years old, Masters powerlifter David Ricks continues to lift colossal amounts of weight. As Ricks prepares for his next contest, the strength icon has a new deadlift feat to boast about. 

Rhianon Lovelace, aka the self-proclaimed "pound-for-pound strongest woman on the planet," is always down to showcase her jaw-dropping power. Most recently, she made short work of a hefty Atlas Stone.

If you've been looking to fine-tune your upper body, we broke down 10 challenging exercises named after fitness pioneers.

Powerlifting

A Deadlift Session Fit for a Legend

David Ricks is the sort of powerlifter who seems to thrive no matter how much weight is loaded onto his barbell. Frankly, at times, he looks unstoppable.

In a training session earlier this week, the 63-year-old powerlifter showed off his uncanny strength by deadlifting 285 kilograms (628 pounds) raw for an astonishing five reps. It's worth noting that each rep was just under six pounds from matching Ricks' current Masters 3 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Record of 287.5 kilograms (633.8 pounds).

Usually, we'd have something to add in a commentary to spice things up, but we think this deadlift session already speaks for itself. 

The next contest for this 10-time IPF World Champion is the 2022 IPF Masters World Classic Championships in Canada in mid-October. Call it a hunch, but we think it's pretty likely Ricks will put on a show. 

Strongwoman

Rhianon Lovelace's Atlas Stone Excellence

The Atlas Stones — a staple in strongman/strongwoman competitions — are famously named after the Greek mythological Titan, Atlas, who held up the biggest stone of all: Earth. Given how her elite career has continued to progress, strongwoman Rhianon Lovelace might be a modern Titan herself. 

On August 23, Lovelace shared a clip where she lifted a 120-kilogram (264-pound) Atlas Stone in one smooth motion. Per the strongwoman's caption, the stone was just under double her (undisclosed) body weight.

What's more, the one-motion technique is typically an efficient lifting process that only athletes who have mastered the Atlas Stones will even attempt. And yet, Lovelace made it look easy. Not that we're surprised, of course. 

Lovelace will take her Atlas Stone prowess to the annual Arnold Sports Festival UK next month.

Training

Push Your Upper Body Like Icons

Part of finding an upper-body strength routine that works for you is finding someone who can set a quality example. Sure, there are countless videos and guides all over the internet, many of which certainly have a ton of merit. But if you want to simplify this search, you should start by trying exercises named after fitness luminaries.

After all, who would know how to make your arms and chest stronger than the people who have paved the way? In a deep dive, we broke down 10 convenient upper-body exercises named after fitness legends, including:

• The Arnold Press

• Svend Press

• JM Press

• Klokov Press

• Lü Raise

• Meadows Row

• Kroc Row

• Pendlay Row

• Scott Curl

• Zottman Curl

You won't go wrong by following in these legendary footsteps. 

Everything Else

Tia-Clair Toomey Can't Stop, Won't Stop

• Fresh off her record sixth CrossFit Games title, Tia-Clair Toomey will next compete on a team at the 2022 Down Under Championship in November.

• In a candid announcement, strength athlete extraordinaire Larry Wheels says he will stop taking steroids indefinitely.

• The Shaw Classic grows in notoriety by the year in the sport of strongman. Here's a look at how much prize money the athletes won at this year's edition.

• Speaking of upper-body workouts, these top-notch variations of the single-arm row will make your upper back quite robust.