Strength and a strong mental mindset is key for any type of lift. Deadlifting, one of three biggest lifts, uses all of the major muscle groups. In a deadlifting competition, the lift is accomplished by locking out your shoulders and bringing the hips forward. On November 17th, 2019, Moanalua Junior Jazzmin White secured a World Record in her Teen Women division – lifting 292 pounds at the World Association of Benchers and Weightlifters preliminary competition. The competition was held in Hilo, Hawai’i. 

“It [is] pretty surreal,” White said elated.  “Just to know that out of not even nationals or states, to know that in the world I set a record is really surreal and it is crazy, it really is!” White added, smiling.  

White surpassed the previous record set by Alaysha Whitehead from Utah, who lifted 231.2 pounds on November 18th of last year. White’s lift left the crowd in awe, with a clean lift and no struggle.

“That’s not the heaviest I lifted,” White says. “When you [are] at the competition you see people maxing out their their weights and struggling to do it, but for me it was just so clean and easy that it did [not] set in my head that I really just set a new world record,” White adds. 

White grew up surrounded by athletics, participating in school sports such as softball and judo. However, powerlifting became White’s new competitive sport three months ago. She lifts with her team in Powerhouse Gym in Aiea once a week, constantly upping her weights.

“I thought it was just going to be something that I picked to keep me in shape for the off season,” White explains. “I noticed that [lifting] translates over to softball and judo that I play too – my bat power and running has gotten a lot easier now that I have more strength and became more aware of more parts of my body and muscles that I don’t normally use in those sports,” White added. 

With her personal record at 320 pounds, White plans to compete in another lifting competition in February with a goal to lift 350 pounds.