Michael McCourt Jr. is just starting his deadlifting career
Credit: getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Michael McCourt Jr., 9, began powerlifting after watching strength trainers on YouTube and training with his dad
- He holds six state records and a world record for his age group after competing in his first powerlifting event
- Michael, who balances powerlifting with school and other sports, plans to deadlift even more at his next competition in October
A young boy has started deadlifting hundreds of pounds in a weightlifting competition.
Michael McCourt Jr., now 9, was only 8 years old when he participated in his first powerlifting competition, USA Powerlifting's Warwick Barbell Bash II, on Saturday, May 2.
McCourt Jr. was the youngest competitor in the contest, but wasn't "really worried" about it.
“I figured I'm just gonna do what everybody else does, just lift the weight," he said to NJ.com.
He practices powerlifting with his dad and coach, Michael McCourt Sr., four days a week while also incorporating football, baseball, wrestling and still completing his studies.
“I've never met anyone, especially at his age, who is so motivated. He locks in, focuses and just wants to do it,” Michael McCourt Sr. said about his son.
Credit: getty
McCourt Sr. trained his son in the three main categories of squat, bench press and deadlift. The boy competed in all three disciplines in the Youth 1 Division, per Sparta Independent.
McCourt Jr. deadlifted 209.44 pounds, squatted 110.2 pounds and bench-pressed 82.6 pounds during the competition. He weighed in at 110 pounds for the event.
He now has six state records that were certified by USA Powerlifting, as well as the world record for his age group.
Meanwhile, his mom, Autumn McCourt, got emotional over her son's confidence and his dedication to being athletic, “but powerlifting just seems to be his thing.”
“It was so amazing, as the competition was classed by age group, so Mike was the youngest and there were guys in their 80s there as well,” she said. “It was so inspirational.”
He began his powerlifting journey after encountering strength trainers like Larry Wheels, Eddie Hall and Brian Shaw on YouTube, and feeling empowered by seeing how strong they were.
“My dad used to lift a lot and we have a gym in our basement,” he said, according to Sparta Independent. “I got interested in joining him about a year ago because I watch powerlifters on YouTube.”
Following McCourt Jr.'s run at the USA Powerlifting Warwick Barbell Bash II, he returned to his studies at Mohawk Avenue School in Sparta, New Jersey, where his classmates gave him cheers and high-fives. His accomplishments were also shared in a schoolwide announcement, according to the outlet.
“He'd always tell us, ‘I want to break some kind of world record, I'm going to figure out what it is.' And it just happened to be that this worked,” McCourt Sr. said.
“He was a true inspiration for me to get back into training and then when he decided he wanted to enter a competition, we really got into it,” he added about his son.
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As for what's next for McCourt Jr., — who, for his birthday last month, asked for a powerlifting belt to help further his training — the boy shared that he wants to reach his next deadlifting goal of 235 lbs. and enter more competitions.
“I've learned that when you set a goal, you can always reach it if you try hard enough,” Michael said.
“I can't wait until my next competition, which will be in October,” he continued. “I love this and I got a really cool medal.”
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