Brennan McDaniel, 16, a Riverdale High School student and employee at the Murfreesboro Athletic Club, recently set world records in powerlifting.

Powerlifting combines the exercises of the bench press, squat and deadlift. Competitions recognize winners in each individual category—in various weight classes and age groups—as well as winners in total weight, calculating the lifter’s total amount lifted in all three areas.

At the 2018 Tennessee State Powerlifting Showdown, McDaniel deadlifted 415 pounds, a record in the 165-pound weight class for 14–15-year-old males.

The International Powerlifting Association also recognizes McDaniel as the world record holder in the total lift category for 14–15-year-old males, with a combined weight lifted of 1,025 pounds.

McDaniel additionally won his weight class at the 2018 USPA Georgia State Powerlifting Championships in May 2018.

McDaniel says he competed against some really talented athletes, adding, “but I just had to stick with my training. My coach really helped me maintain my mentality during [the event]. All the hard work that I’d been putting in, seven days a week, two hours a day, paid off.”

McDaniel originally became interested in weight lifting and training when he went to a tournament to see his sister compete. During that competition, his sister, another Murfreesboro resident, set a few records herself, inspiring McDaniel to jump headfirst into the sport.

“I really wanted to be a part of that because of the individuality of it and the fact that she’s never lifted a day in her life. But, three months into it and she’s already setting records,” McDaniel said.

He trained for multiple months for his first national competition and said that he wasn’t sure what to expect once he had finally arrived.

“It was intimidating to see all those world-class lifters there and me being someone who had just been doing it for a year,” McDaniel said. “But, once I started lifting, the nerves just went away. . . . It was a really good experience.”

While McDaniel is employed at the Athletic Club, he also regularly works out and trains for competitions at the fitness center.

“They have a lot of good, experienced members that are very elite in what they do,” McDaniel said. “It’s a great place to be and a great place to work out.”

Rick Canada, the general manager of the Murfreesboro Athletic Club, stated that he’s noticed how hardworking McDaniel is and attributes the 16-year-old’s success in weight lifting to that work ethic.

“Brennan’s not your average 16-year-old kid,” Canada said. “When I hired him, I saw the work he put in day after day after day. You just don’t see that in 15-, 16-year-old kids these days.”

McDaniel says that his participation in lifting tournaments is a great way to represent Murfreesboro, and looks forward to future competitions.

“There are a lot of talented people here,” McDaniel said. “It’s a very fitness-oriented city, and it’s great to be the one to represent it.”