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The iconic powerlifter continues to show impressive longevity.
On July 10, 2023, The strongest man in the world (WSM) champ Mitchell Hooper posted a video on his YouTube channel featuring a leg workout session with strength sports icon Nick Best. After some warm-ups and a deliberate chat with his would-be spotter in Hooper, Best, 54, successfully locks down a 364.2 kilograms (802.9 pounds) back squat with wraps starting at around 4:45 into the video. According to Best in the video, this is now the 27th consecutive year that the athlete has squatted at least this weight for one repetition. In a post on his Instagram, Hooper called it “an absolute privilege” to see Best continue his personal tradition.
“It’s been 27 years now. The first time was in 1996.
Better wore one lifting belt, knee pads and wrist guards to help him in his squatting success. Such a configuration of equipment would count under a “Wraps” qualification in a sanctioned powerlifting setting. Best remains an active professional powerlifter but retired from competitive strongman in November 2022.
After finishing his squat, Best and Hooper would spend the rest of their session performing a few deadlift. At the top of their pull segment, Best picked up 227 kilograms (500.4 pounds), while Hooper worked with 275 kilograms (606.2 pounds). Best wore a lifting belt and lifting straps for his deadlifts, while Hooper appeared to have simply used lifting straps.
Best’s latest landmark squat comes on the heels of the athlete who is pushing full throttle about six months after a nephrectomy – the surgical removal of a kidney. In April 2023, Best shared footage of himself performing seated iso side rows with the highest weight of 244.9 kilograms (540 pounds) for eight reps. Then, about a month later, at the end of May 2023, Best recorded a 350 kilogram (771.6 pound) squat with wraps.
If the athlete had seen any adverse effects from his surgical recovery, it was not evident with these two coaching treats. It’s also certainly not obvious that Best can squat the same weight he’s been squatting for nearly three decades.
At this point in the year, it looks like the legend has regained its usual full force.
At the time of this article’s publication, according to his personal page on Open powerlifting, it’s been over a year since Best has competed in a powerlifting contest. The athlete has yet to announce when he will compete again but does not appear to have ruled out a return. Best may be waiting to fully recover before making any commitments – a logical bet that seems to work brilliantly in the gym.
Featured Image: @nickbeststrongman on Instagram
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