During the Arnold Strongwoman Classic, Tamara Walcott matched Victoria Long’s impressive record-setting Elephant Bar Deadlift of 295.2 kilograms (651 pounds). Walcott, who finished in 10th place overall, had previously set the record for the Elephant Bar Deadlift during the 2022 Rogue Record Breakers, where she pulled 290.7 kilograms (641 pounds). Both athletes used lifting belts for support, but Long also utilized lifting straps to assist with the lift, in accordance with Strongwoman rules.

It’s worth noting that Walcott chose not to use any grip support during her record-setting lift, likely due to her background as a competitive powerlifter where straps are not permitted. However, many fans and commentators were surprised to see Walcott struggle with achieving a decisive lockout compared to Long’s apparent ease with the lift. Nonetheless, both athletes put on a remarkable display of strength and skill with this challenging variation of the deadlift.

Long’s victory and record-setting performance at the Arnold Strongwoman Classic are just the latest in a string of successes for the strongwoman superstar. According to Strongman Archives, Long has only ever fallen short of a win once in six career contests, which was her competitive debut at the 2019 World’s Strongest Woman contest. Since then, Long has maintained an impeccable record that includes two America’s Strongest Woman titles (2021, 2022), the 2022 Shaw Classic championship, and now two consecutive Arnold Strongwoman Classic titles.

For Walcott, matching the Elephant Bar Deadlift record was likely a satisfying way to finish her competitive strongwoman debut. Transitioning between powerlifting and strongwoman competitions can be a challenge for athletes, but Walcott’s performance suggests that she may have the potential for massive improvements should she continue to compete in strongwoman events. Additionally, in her previous sport of powerlifting, Walcott has not lost a competition since October 2019, according to Open Powerlifting.