Back from Youngstown, Ohio. Wife did not succeed in breaking the circus db world record, but all 3 attempts she got SO close! She really was in peak condition & absolutely powerful. All of her cleans with the 139.4lbs db looked effortless, & she could press it to arm’s length every time. She just wasn’t able to stabilize it during the recovery, and you have to stand erect with control to get a successful down command.
The previous record was ~137.5lbs. There were 2 other women attempting this particular record at this charity event. One of them got hurt on her first attempt with the 139 - it got away from her and slid backwards at lockout, and I believe she slightly hyperextended her shoulder or elbow. So she was out. The other woman missed 139.4 on her first try but smashed it beautifully on her second. She jumped to 144.4 for a third but it proved too much even for her - she did have access to a final 4th attempt since she broke the record, but waved it because she felt her erectors straining. Besides a little cut on her ear and a sore tspine & bruised shoulder, my wife got out unscathed. So that was a real blessing!
The record breaker event went well & definitely helped pump up the show: a 140lb woman pressed a 160 block, another did a 215lb axle clean & press, a 231 man did a 286lb block, and there were several heavy deadlift attempts (one 231 guy got 859 to just below his knees and must have held it for 4 seconds before collapsing). The amateur show afterwards had a massive turnout, something like 130 competitors, and a lot of money was raised for the family whose little girl passed away from cancer a couple months ago.
I would say my wife also did an excellent job both cutting and rehydrating; every time I take her through this I feel I learn more and more how to optimize both the timing/process of the cut & speed of rehydration. The previous Saturday she was 151lbs waking up. She was still 148.4lbs Thursday at 6pm. She weighed in Friday at 9am 140.2lbs and was 148 again by 2pm, going to bed at 152.4lbs to compete at full strength next day.
Anyway, the trip was really good. Her father came out to stay with us & support as well, and my son of course had a blast every day at the pool. When we got to the show, he shouted “I want to do the competition!”
He also made up a song about the Holiday Inn. I didn’t have the heart to tell him Ludacris already beat him to it.