Hickey powers his way to world record

Meath's Austin Hickey broke the world record in the squat category, lifting 275 kgs at the National Powerlifting Championships in Enfield on Saturday.

His achievement in Enfield is just the latest in a number of memorable feats he has chalked up in powerlifting over the years.

In 2017 the former Drumconrath and Meath junior footballer broke five world records in the drug free powerlifting event in Moscow.

Hickey lifted in the 100kg bodyweight senior division category in the Russian capital and his lifts were squat 271 kgs, bench press 185 kgs and deadlift 273 kgs for a 729 total - and all world records!

In 2011 Austin and his brother James Hickey enjoyed a successful weekend at the All-Ireland powerlifting championships in Gorey.

Austin, who was third in the European bench press championships in Malta in 2010, lifted 175kgs to win the All-Ireland bench press championship.

James, who won the world championships the previous year, lifted 170kgs to win the All-Ireland bench press championships for his weight category.

Following that achievement, James then lifted a massive 310.5kgs in the deadlift to break the world record by half a kilogram. Not content with that, he then attempted to lift 315kgs to break the world record a second time, a feat he achieved.

In old-style weights, 315kgs is just five pounds short of 50 stone!!