🏋️ oleksii novikov's 1,210-pound world record

Author

Robert Zeglinski
August 19, 2022

Recent reports in the scientific community say the Earth is actually spinning a little faster than usual nowadays. To be honest, we didn't notice the difference because news in the strength world always moves lightning-quick.

Oleksii Novikov burst onto the major strongman scene when he won the World's Strongest Man in 2020. And after notching a new record in the Hummer Tire Deadlift at last weekend's Shaw Classic, it's high time we start appreciating his run of excellence.

Even though she's still in her early 20s, powerlifter Serena Abweh has already amassed a bunch of impressive PRs. A recent deadlift session where she pulled 3.4 times her body weight tells us she's not slowing down anytime soon.

Looking for a little extra edge on your next leg day? Check out our breakdown of a few strenuous (but rewarding!) hamstring curl variations.

Strongman

Oleksii Novikov's Hummer-Like Strength

Oleksii Novikov notches the Hummer Tire Deadlift World Record

Image: @novikov_strong_wsm on Instagram

Oleksii Novikov has been a professional strongman for almost six years. In that time, he's won notable contests like Ukraine's Strongest Man (2016-2019), Europe's Strongest Man (2022), and of course, the illustrious World's Strongest Man (2020).

But as a new achievement shows, this strongman superstar has been hitting an incredible groove lately.

During the 2022 Shaw Classic on August 13, Novikov kicked off the event by successfully pulling a colossal 549 kilograms (1,210 pounds) during the Hummer Tire Deadlift. It's a new world record, surpassing J.F. Caron's previous mark from 2020 by eight pounds. Novikov's Hummer Tire pull was so far ahead of the field that it eclipsed the next best competitor, Gabriel Peña, by almost 60 pounds. There's elite, and then there's just plain dominant.

Powerlifting

A Deadlift Worth Writing Home About

Serena Abweh deadlifts 355 pounds

Image: @rena_serenaa on Instagram

Now and then, a powerlifter will give us a first-hand example of their strength with immediate context on their latest milestone. It's a great way to keep us on our toes and be even more amazed by their tremendous power. That's precisely the kind of insight that Junior powerlifter Serena Abweh provided on her training progress.

In a post on her Instagram earlier this week, Abweh shared footage of herself notching a raw deadlift of 161 kilograms (355 pounds). The pull is a personal record and 3.4 times Abweh's usual competition body weight of 47 kilograms (103 pounds).

It's been almost a year since Abweh competed on a sanctioned lifting platform. Judging by this deadlift feat, she may storm back whenever her next contest arrives. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on this rising star.

Training

The Magic of the Hamstring Curl

An athlete performs a hamstring curl

Image: Burnt Red Hen on Shutterstock

It's leg day, and you're ready to put your hamstrings through the wringer. But, as can often be the case, everyone else in the gym wants to do the same, leaving you stuck waiting for a machine to open up.

Have no fear! You don't need a static machine to work the backs of your legs into finely tuned pistons. In the article below, you'll learn about a whole new world of hamstring curl variations, including:

  • Standing Hamstring Curls

  • Resistance Band Hamstring Curls

  • Stability Ball Hamstring Curls

  • Dumbbell Hamstring Curls

  • Core Slider Hamstring Curls

  • Isometric Hamstring Curls

  • Nordic Hamstring Curls

Any measure of these can give you and your hamstrings the workout they deserve.

Everything Else

A Potential Olympia Favorite Has Arrived

Image: @andrewjacked | photo by Will Wittmann (@w_wittmannphoto on Instagram)