While you’re struggling through a WOD with a few weighted lunges, there’s some guy in Russia climbing up a snowy 5642 meter mountain with 75 kg. (165 lbs.) on his back. Yeah you heard that right.
In an amazing feat of mental and physical toughness, Russian Powerlifter Andrey Rodichev set a world record by loading up his 20 kg. Eleiko barbell with a couple 25 kg. plates, throwing it on his back, and then marching up over 5500 meters to the summit of Mt. Elbrus.
What makes this already insanely awesome feat even better is that he did it to raise awareness for the struggling weightlifting scene in his hometown of Murmansk.
“The federation has no professional equipment for competition and training,” he told the media. “A professional 480 kg. barbell cost 500,000 rubles ($7,650), but the city and regional administration has no money, ever. I want to do this to draw attention to the Powerlifting Federation in Murmansk region.”
In preparing for the challenge of climbing Mt. Elbrus, Rodichev trained twice a day, seven days a week. He would start his day with running to boost his cardio, and then would finish with a weightlifting session to help build up the strength required to pull off such a difficult task.
Once Rodichev was ready to start his ascent he used specially designed straps to attach the barbell to his back. He was able to move at an average speed of 50 meters per hour; and despite encountering bad weather conditions, he reached the summit in 8 days.
Rodichev’s barbell has been installed at the summit of Mt. Elbrus to celebrate his incredible feat; and his journey is being made into a documentary using footage from his climb, so be sure to keep an eye out for it when it’s released, it'll be EPIC!
