Matt Sowers of Macomb made history over the weekend by setting a new weightlifting record.
Competing in the 80-kilogram (176-pound) weight class, Sowers completed a maximum atlas stone load of 428 pounds. The event requires an athlete to lift a large, boulder-like stone and raise it over a bar positioned four feet off the ground.
The record-setting lift took place Saturday in El Paso, Illinois. With the performance, Sowers claimed the top mark in the 80kg division for both drug-tested and non–drug-tested competitors.
Sowers also surpassed the previous world record during warmups by successfully lifting a 415-pound stone. He said his goal was to reach 440 pounds, but he was unable to complete that lift after two attempts.
He says he’s now retiring from competition.
