Powerlifting veteran Richard Hawthorne boasts the highest pound-for-pound strength ratio in the world. Despite weighing 130 lbs, Hawthorne has lifted record-breaking weights. The powerlifter’s raw personal best numbers are 308 lbs on benchpress, 500 lbs squat, and 611 lbs deadlift. Earlier, the Arnold Sports Festival posted a video of Hawthorne redefining how people think of strength.

The Arnold Sports Festival announced the much-awaited return of the Animal Cage at the 2024 Arnold Classic through Hawthorne’s video. The powerful video showed Hawthorne, weighing 130 lbs, defying possibility as he deadlifted 600 lbs for five reps. The incredible footage captured the emotion Hawthorne felt during the clip. Meanwhile, the powerlifting veteran explained his secret to superhuman strength.

An unforgettable moment in powerlifting history

The incredible footage showed Richard Hawthorne creating powerlifting history with tears rolling down his eyes. Despite the emotions, the 130 lbs powerlifter closed his eyes, wrapped his fingers around the barbell, and pulled 600 lbs repeatedly. The strength athlete’s form remained intact, and he used nothing other than good old chalk to help grip the bar.

While the video showed his raw lifting prowess, Hawthorne explained how he felt through a voice-over. “That kind of power and emotion… To be able to use that emotion for your lift? Not everybody can do it,” explained the powerlifting veteran. Richard Hawthorne said channeling your emotions into focus and strength is “very hard to do.”

However, he shed light on the fact that the secret was to not let the emotions get the better of you. “Instead of letting the emotion take over you, you use the emotion to empower you,” said Hawrthrone in the voiceover. The video itself was an example of Hawthorne’s secret. While most people would struggle during moments of emotion, Richard Hawthorne used it to create history. In 2024, he’ll get the opportunity to recreate history.

The Arnold Sports Festival announces the return of the cage

“The Animal Cage returns to Columbus, Ohio on March 1-3 2024!” read the caption of the post by Arnold Sports Festival. Bodybuilding remains the most popular attraction of the Arnold Sports Festival. However, Schwarzenegger made sure to give other sports a platform to shine. The Animal Cage is one such powerlifting event.

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Sponsored by Animal Pak, a sports nutrition brand, the cage hosts talents like Richard Hawthorne. Fans were disappointed as the event had been absent from the 2023 edition. However, in 2024 at Columbus, elite powerlifting athletes will put on memorable displays of strength for fans of the sport.

While it’s no easy task to focus while going through a roller coaster of emotions, Richard Hawthorne is among the best. In fact, it’s feats like this that make it possible for him to have a strength-to-weight ratio of over 11 times his body weight.

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