🏋️ watch this 86-year-old's 171-pound deadlift

We like to believe the BarBend Newsletter readership is the type to re-rack their weights at the gym and wipe down their machines when they're done with them. We're positive thinkers in that way.

Today's newsletter kicks off with some mid-week motivation. And there's nothing more inspiring than ​​this 86-year-old's mighty deadlift.

Are you searching for some extra oomph in your training? From supersets to forced reps, we've got eight ways to add a spark to your workouts.

The 2023 Pan American Weightlifting Championships hosted some unbelievable performances leading up to next year's Olympics. And here's the full report of the action. ​

Powerlifting

Octogenarian Power

​​Brian Winslow — a.k.a. "the U.K.'s oldest weightlifter" — brings extra meaning to the saying, "Age is just a number." During the recent 2023 British Drug-Free Powerlifting Championships from mid-March, the 86-year-old Winslow captured a 77.5-kilogram (171-pound) raw deadlift.

The pulling mark is a record in the Men's 60-kilogram weight class in the ages 85-89 division. The achievement and story were noted on the BBC News Instagram page, and the outlet also received a few comments from Winslow himself.

“It’s always great to get a record or two,” Winslow said. “I was exhausted straight after but okay.” He also noted that he's not done with deadlifting quite yet, so we'll keep an eye out for more broken records in the future.

Workout Tips

Kick It Up

Strength training is a science. Whether you're a powerlifter, weightlifter, or just want to get a bit stronger, you likely follow a program that is neatly and coherently designed to produce predictable results.

The path isn't as clearly marked for those looking to gain muscle on a bodybuilding program. While there are reliable ways to increase your mass, at one point or another, you'll have to put away the Excel sheet and get your hands dirty the old-fashioned way.

That's where intensity techniques come in. Five sets of five are all well and good, but what if they're not good enough? If you want to make the most gains possible, you'll have to take yourself to failure — and beyond. Here are eight ways to turn the temperature up in the gym when you need to bring the heat.

Weightlifting

Pan American Championships Results

This past week's Pan American Weightlifting Championships in Bariloche, Argentina, was an important stepping stone to the 2024 Olympic Games, as the best weightlifters from North and South America gathered for the competition.

Several athletes strengthened their cases as Olympic hopefuls, from U.S. standouts like ​​Ryan Sester and Jourdan Delacruz to the women of Ecuador, who combined for seven podium spots. It was a week full of highlights, and we've got all of the results below:

From Our Sponsor

Nobody likes getting older because our muscles become weaker, making the activities we used to enjoy more difficult to do. But what if you didn't have to get weaker? What if you could become stronger?

"It's actually a lot simpler than you might think," according to P90x founder Tony Horton.

By combining high-quality grass-fed whey protein with other ingredients — like HMB, vegan D3, a protein digestive enzyme, chlorella protothecoides algae powder, and a chromium complex — Horton created a high-quality protein powder specifically built to fight against age-related muscle loss.

Everything Else

The 2023 CrossFit Games Take Shape

• Teams CrossFit East Nashville PRVN and CrossFit Invictus tied atop the leaderboard during the 2023 CrossFit Quarterfinals. Check out the full results.

• Ashwagandha may help you manage stress, reduce fatigue, and perform better in the gym. And we've rounded up the best supplements starring this powerful nightshade.

• The contest coverage doesn't end here at BarBend — and we're capping off today's newsletter with a rundown of the 2023 Giants Live Europe's Strongest Man competition from over the weekend.