Nick Best Smashes a 600-lb (272-kg) Deadlift for 16 Reps 5 Days Before Turning 54

Nick Best continues aging like fine wine, as he throws around 600 pounds just days before celebrating his 54th birthday.

Nikhil Sharma
By
Nikhil Sharma
Lifelong fitness & combat sports enthusiast and fan with a love for the community and everything related.
| Updated by Andrew Smith
4 Min Read
Nick Best 600lb Deadlift
Nick Best 600lb Deadlift (Image via @nickbeststrongman/Instagram)

Strongman legend Nick Best has continued to push past his limits as he got into his 50s. Nick’s insane feats of strength in the training room still often leave much younger gymgoers envious. This was the case in a recent post seen on Nick’s Instagram, as Best smashed through a massive 600-pound (272-kilogram) deadlift for 16 reps just five days before turning 54-years-old.

Nick Best first gained attention as a world-class Strongman athlete, having built an immense legacy in the sport. Best was a consistent threat at the World’s Strongest Man competition, where he competed for a total of ten times during his career. His best performance got him a sixth-place finish at the 2010 WSM. However, he chose to step away from the sport after 36 International Strongman contests to compete in powerlifting. Of those 36 competitions, Nick managed to win three and stand and numerous other podiums. His wins came at:

  • 2016 Masters World’s Strongest Man — First-place
  • 2016 Giants Live North American Open — First-place
  • 2010 All-American Strongman Challenge — First-place

Best competed in the 140 kg weight class of the Masters (50-54 years old) age division in May at the 2022 WRPF FQ Classic 2 powerlifting competition. He put in an impressive performance and set the new WRPF Squat & Deadlift Masters’ World Record. He managed to squat a massive 821.5 lbs (372.5-kg). While Nick needed knee wraps to perform this squat, he managed to pull off an insane 744 lbs (337.5-kg) deadlift raw. It is also worth noting he came in considerably underweight at 138.1-kg and walked away with all 4 of the WRPF Masters World Records in the 140-kg weight class.

The 53-year-old recently announced his comeback to Strongman, having made his way to Columbia, Missouri in July for the 2022 Clash of the Masters Invitational. Despite it being his first show after returning to the sport, Best managed to lift a huge 700-pound (317.5-kg) 13-inch deadlift for eight reps in preparation for the show. He only used a deadlift suit, lifting belt, and lifting straps to perform the exercise. He also elevated the bar to 13-inches by placing two small boxes under it.

Nick Best crushes a massive 600-pound (272-kg) deadlift for 16 reps at almost 54

In a recent post on Instagram, Nick Best smashed a huge set of 600-pound (272-kilogram) deadlifts for 16 reps in an age-defying lift just five days before turning 54-years-old.

Nick Best can be seen performing the exercise at a steady pace using a lifting belt and lifting straps. He also performed the set by using a conventional stance.

Nick Best’s Powerlifting History

Personal Bests

Equip Squat Bench Deadlift Total Dots
Wraps 870.8 529.1 870.8 2226.7 555.07
Single-ply 815.7 551.2 815.7 2155 537.54

Competition Results

Place Fed Date Competition Division Total Dots
1 WRPF 2022-05-01 FQ Classic 2 M50-54 2028.3 506.13
3 WRPF 2021-04-24 Kern US Open Open 2028.3 505.81
NS WRPF 2019-04-27 Kern US Open Open
1 IPL 2018-11-17 Old Dogs World Cup Masters 50-54 2182.6 543.64
2 IPL 2018-09-14 Olympia Pro Powerlifting Open 2155 537.54
3 USPA 2017-04-15 CETC US Open Powerlifting Championships HW 2226.7 555.07
1 USPA 2017-01-07 American Cup Los Angeles Fit Expo Open 2221.2 552.13
1 USPA 2016-04-23 Nevada State Powerlifting Championships Open 2171.6 540.78
1 USPA 2016-04-23 Nevada State Powerlifting Championships Masters 45-49 2171.6 540.78
DQ USAPL 2000-07-09 Mens National Powerlifting Championships M-O
1 USAPL 1999-04-10 California State Open 1973.1 507.25
3 USAPL 1998-07-03 Mens National Powerlifting Championships M-O 1940.1 501.06
1 USAPL 1998-04-03 California State Open 1973.1 507.25
1 USAPL 1997-07-26 Mens Nationals Open 1989.7 511.5
1 ADFPA 1997-02-01 California State Open 2022.7
1 WDFPF 1996-08-24 World Powerlifting Championships Open 1907 490.24
1 ADFPA 1996-06-15 Mens Nationals Open 1967.6 505.83
1 ADFPA 1996-04-13 California State Championships Open 2006.2 515.75
4 ADFPA 1995-07-15 Mens Nationals Open 1901.5 488.83
1 ADFPA 1995-03-25 California State Open 1885 484.58
1 ADFPA 1994-12-11 Outlaw Christmas Open Open 479.5 128.82
1 ADFPA 1994-10-15 Beale Open and California State Deadlift Open 1796.8 482.7
5 ADFPA 1994-07-16 Mens Nationals Open 1857.4 498.98
1 ADFPA 1994-04-23 California State Open 1758.2 472.33
2 ADFPA 1994-01-23 California State Squat Open 661.4 170.03
1 ADFPA 1993-10-23 Azusa Classic Open 1769.2 475.29
4 ADFPA 1993-07-10 Mens Nationals Open 1780.2 478.26
2 ADFPA 1993-03-13 California State Championships Open 1802.3 484.18
7 ADFPA 1992-06-06 Mens Nationals Open 1648 442.72
1 ADFPA 1991-11-02 Northern California Open 1631.4 438.28
1 USPF 1991-08-24 East Beach Open Natural 1625.9 436.8
1 USPF 1991-08-24 East Beach Open Open 1625.9 436.8
3 USPF 1985-04-01 El Dorado Gold Championships High School 940 288.83
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023

Nick Best’s comeback at the Clash of The Masters was a historic one for the Strongman veteran. Despite being away from the sport for over two years, Nick finished third at the show, with only Tim Filus and Travis Ortmayer getting a higher placing. Although he did not come out victorious, Best proved he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Nick Best completed a massive 700-pound deadlift for 10 reps at the contest, displaying the smooth form and steady pacing. So, with his recent mind-blowing 16-rep set, Nick proved that the higher volume deadlift sets are his greatest prowess. If recent updates are any indication, Best will continue to age like fine wine and achieve new goals in his fitness journey.

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Lifelong fitness & combat sports enthusiast and fan with a love for the community and everything related.
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