11-year-old American Powerlifting champion lifts 266 lbs for Zercher squats, leaves fans amazed
Rory van Ulft has yet again taken powerlifting enthusiasts by surprise after doing Zercher squats with a whopping 266 lbs (121kg). At just 11 years of age, Rory has been a five-time champion of US National Youth Weightlifting.
115 kg is considered to be the average weight that can be lifted by an adult male weightlifter while doing a Zercher squat as per Strength Level. However, what Rory has displayed in this post on her Instagram page is clearly above and beyond anybodys imagination.
Rory has been an inspiration for everyone who watched her on Canada's Got Talent. She started her act with gymnastics but then turned her bar prop into a weighted one. This brought her much-deserved appreciation and recognition from across the world. Watch Rory's audition video on Canada's Got Talent's YouTube channel:
Netizens speculated that Rory would become a pro bodybuilder when she grows up. Comparing her with one of the greatest powerlifters of his time, one person said she was one step away from becoming the next Ronnie Coleman in the post's comments:
"This girls one twist away from being the next Ronnie Coleman," the user commented.
"More strength & power to you Rory ... You're an example to billions ... of humans !!" wrote another user.
Rory's powerlifting videos are all over her social media, and her clean-and-press is spectacular, but her doing the Zercher squat gets the most appreciation. She managed to lift 3.15 times her body weight and and 13 kg more than the IPF-43kg sub-junior women’s classic back squat world record, as per her post.
What is a Zercher squat?
A Zercher squat is done by placing the weight-laden bar into one's bent elbows. Unlike other weighted squats where the weight works against the major joints in line with each other, the Zercher squat requires the lifter to hold the weights while maintaining a form where the joints are not aligned. The elbows are joints with a linear range of motion and this type of squat tests the elbow's resistance to collapse. This makes this squat very difficult to execute.
Rory's strength is exemplary especially for her age. However, she once claimed in one fun competitive video titled 'Am I Stronger than World's Strongest 10-year Old?' shared by Will Tennyson on his YouTube that she rests less and eats a lot of candy.