Many people view aging as a destructive process since their physical appearance deteriorates in every aspect. However, there are many personalities in fitness who prove that this does not have to be the case. There is one legendary Strongman athlete in particular who has put up incredible feats of strength for decades and is not stopping even at 54 years old. The man in question is Nick Best, as he has just squatted over 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) for the 27th consecutive year.
Nick Best recently partnered up with the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, Mitchell Hooper, for a training session. They decided to perform a training session consisting of squats and deadlifts, both of which are Nick’s strengths.
Nick Best and Mitchell Hooper first warmed up with a few progressively heavier sets. Nick opted to perform the squats with knee wraps, while Hooper decided to go raw. In turn, Hooper only built up to a single with 704 pounds (320 kilograms) after which he decided to stop. Nick then loaded 803 pounds (365 kilograms) and grinded it out.
Nick then revealed that this was the 27th year in a row that he has squatted this much weight.
“That makes 27 years now. The first time was in 1996.” said Best.
“This streak started when I was one year old,” replied Hooper.
Watch Nick Best’s squat here:
*Nick Best performed the squat at the 5:00 timestamp of the video.
Related: 54-YO Nick Best Sinks a 771-lb (349.7-kg) Squat With Knee Wraps In Training
Mitchell Hooper also asked Nick’s opinion on the issue of people complaining about their bodies before they reach the age of 30. Nick’s response was straightforward since he has demonstrated for multiple decades that hard work is the key to success.
“They are bullshi**ing. Put in the work.” said Best.
This 803-pound (365-kilogram) comes just a few months after Nick Best underwent a surgery to remove his kidney. This medical process is called nephrectomy and was done to him due to cancer. Luckily, his cancer was revealed on time, as the doctors noticed it after Nick came in to check his ribs after a failed bench press. So, it was definitely not easy to recover from the surgery, but he is already squatting over 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms).
It is also important to note that Nick performed this squat despite no longer being a professional Strongman athlete. He retired from the sport in November of 2022, but still maintains an incredible physical shape. He is mostly focusing on the squats and deadlifts, as he also pulled 15 reps with 600 pounds (272.2 kilograms) at the 2022 Mr. Olympia Expo shortly after retiring.
Related: Nick Best Smashes a 600-lb (272-kg) Deadlift for 16 Reps 5 Days Before Turning 54
Nick Best has left the topic of taking part in powerlifting competitions open and his incredible 803-pound (365-kilogram) squat makes a comeback look promising. His most recent powerlifting performance was at the 2022 WRPF FQ Classic 2 where he managed to set two WRPF Masters World Records. So, if he does take part in another competition, Nick could set some more records.
Published: 10 July, 2023 | 5:06 PM EDT
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