Rudy Kadlub’s birthday is a big deal for powerlifting fans all around the world. His celebrations have turned into a cherished tradition for him and everyone eagerly awaits the event. The most exciting part of his birthday festivities is when he performs his customary deadlift. This year he lifted one pound more than the year before. It’s an incredible feat that always leaves everyone impressed and in awe of his strength. Last year, Rudy Kadlub lifted an impressive 523 pounds (237.2 kilograms) for his birthday deadlift. This year, to surpass his record, he lifted 524 pounds (237.7 kilograms) to celebrate his 74th birthday. However, seeing that this represents his one-rep max, no one expected that Rudy would be able to complete two reps. Well, according to his Instagram, Rudy crushed both reps and landed a new two-rep PR as well.
Rudy Kadlub’s 74th birthday was on April 10th, 2023, but he had to postpone the deadlift attempt to April 27th, due to an illness earlier in the month. Despite the setbacks, Rudy was able to come in stronger than ever, surprising everyone in the gym and on Instagram.
Rudy Kadlub only equipped himself with a lifting belt and some chalk before coming up to the barbell. He then slowly found his perfect foot placement for the sumo stance and lifted the 524 pounds (237 kilograms) with ease. However, with multiple members of his team rooting for him, Rudy completed the second repetition under peer pressure.
“For my annual birthday tradition, I pulled 524# this year, 1 pound more than last. This year, the @kabukistrength team peer pressured me into doubling it, so not only is this a raw PR deadlift weight for me, but for 2 reps!”
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Rudy Kadlub also stated that he might have to re-do his goals for next year, as it is evident that an increase of just one pound is nothing for him.
“If I can get stronger every year, by the time I am 90, I can do 700 pounds”
Rudy Kadlub already holds numerous Masters World Records in powerlifting, but it is now evident that he will further improve those records in the future. This is especially impressive, seeing that Rudy has been competing for 17 years. During that time, he took part in 40 sanctioned competitions and won 34 of them.
In addition, Rudy Kadlub has contributed to the powerlifting scene in other ways than competing. He is a co-founder of Kabuki Strength, a manufacturer of gym equipment, especially barbells.
Rudy Kadlub’s Competition PRs
Squat (wraps): 205 kilograms (551.9 pounds) — (2021 IPL Drug Tested World Championship)
Bench Press (raw): 142.5 kilograms (314.1 pounds) — (2021 IPL Drug Tested World Championship)
Deadlift (raw): 235 kilograms (518 pounds) — (2020 USPA Drug Tested North American Championships)
Total (raw w/wraps): 578 kilograms (1,274.2 pounds) — (2021 IPL Drug Tested World Championship)
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Apart from being an incredible powerlifter, Rudy Kadlub is one of the most inspirational figures in strength sports. His feats become even more impressive each year, especially during his birthday deadlift sessions. This year’s 524-pound (237.7-kilogram) two-rep raw deadlift is his greatest one yet, so the upcoming season could see Rudy break some more records as well.
If you have questions or need clarifications, please leave a comment below, and Vedad will respond promptly.
Vedad is a journalist specializing in strength sports, with three years of experience covering powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, strongman, armwrestling and bodybuilding. He is a lifelong fitness enthusiast, passionate about all aspects of strength training. Vedad's in-depth knowledge of training methodologies and dedication to constant research fuel his insightful and engaging reporting. He works hard to deliver accurate content while continuously seeking to improve his craft.
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