New world record - Strongman Martins Licis lifted 136kg hammer!

During the past weekend, there was a huge sports festival called the Rogue Invitational, hosted by the sporting goods manufacturer Rogue itself. Both crossfitters and strongmen competed against each other at the festival. However, these were not ordinary races, but races to which the athletes themselves were invited by the organizers. Moreover, they prepared really big packages of "prize money", which they gave to the best of the best. One of them was strongman Martins Licis, who returned to racing after a year's break. This athlete prescribed it himself, because of the injuries he needed to get over. Thanks to Martins showing his qualities at the Rogue Invitational and winning the main event, his wallet became $133,351 heavier! WOW...

Licis did not, however, end his earnings there. That same weekend, he took part in an attempt to break the world record for lifting and holding a giant hammer at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX. That record was held by Hafthor Bjornsson with a 118 kg performance. Mikhail Shivlyakov, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Laurence Shahlaei, Martins Licis, Trey Mitchell and Josh Thigpen were invited to participate in this attempt.

The challengers first started at 90kg, which they all overcame very handily. This was followed by an attempt at 102kg, which only Trey Mitchell failed to surpass. Eventually the attempt moved to 125kg, which meant the weight was already above the previous record. Only Kieliszkowski, Licis and Shivlyakov passed this attempt. This trio then took on the hammer, which weighed 136kg. However, only Licis was able to successfully overcome this weight with a valid attempt, and then tried to overcome 147.5kg, but he did not have the strength to do so. In any case, Licis set a new world record with 136kg and took $5,000 in addition to the $133,351 he was awarded for this feat.