Jessica Buettner Matches Her Personal Record for Raw Squat at 220 Kilograms (485 Pounds)
Buettner’s Impressive Streak Continues with Another Stacked Lift
The idea that an immovable force cannot do anything to an immovable object has clearly not witnessed the strength of Jessica Buettner, famously known as “The Canadian Forklift.” This powerlifter is capable of lifting very heavy objects with ease in the gym.
On March 13, 2023, Buettner posted a video on Instagram where she captured herself lifting a massive 220-kilogram (485-pound) raw back squat. The athlete wore a lifting belt, wrist wraps, and knee sleeves to help her with the strength feat. According to the caption of the post, the lift ties Buettner’s all-time personal record (PR).
While the powerlifter’s all-time raw competition best remains a 218.7-kilogram (481.7-pound) squat from the 2022 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Buettner’s squat training is an integral part of her preparation for the upcoming 2023 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships scheduled to be held on March 25, 2023, in Sheffield, England. She recently competed in the 84-kilogram division during a record-breaking performance at the 2023 Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) Nationals and will now move down to her usual 76-kilogram category, where she is the two-time defending IPF World Champion, for the upcoming contest.
Buettner has been inspired by her record-setting peers and has augmented her squat training accordingly. Karlina Tongotea, the 76-kilogram raw squat IPF World Record holder (223 kilograms/491.6 pounds), and reigning European Champion Agata Sitko, who holds the raw bench press World Record in the 84-kilogram division (147.5 kilograms/325.1 pounds), are two of her biggest inspirations.
In a post on Instagram, Buettner wrote, “I watched [Tongotea] squat 230 kilograms (507 pounds) in training and [Sitko] bench 146 kilograms (321.8 pounds) as if it was nothing. It’s not a question of if World Records are going to get broken at this point. Sheffield is going to be something to see!”
The 2023 Sheffield Championships will not only feature Jessica Buettner, but also Amanda Lawrence, a three-time 84-kilogram IPF World Champion who also plans to make an impact in England.
Buettner’s progress in training suggests that she has the potential to outshine her peers during the competition. However, it may come down to the friendly competition between these superstars to determine who emerges victorious.
Courtesy image @djessicabuettner (Instagram)
