Kelsey Scannevin is a World Record Holder
NEWTON, Mass. (BVM)– For the past two years, Kelsey Scannevin has been patrolling the outfield for the Lasell University Lasers softball team. In her off time, she is busy at the gym, in the weight room, getting stronger. Scannevin is a powerlifter and holds many world records for the 123-pound and under weight class.
“I honestly don’t tell that many people about my world records, I always stay humble,” Scannevin said. “However, it’s the greatest internal feeling and it keeps me going when I start to doubt myself. I consistently check the record books to make sure nobody breaks my records.”
In a highly competitive sport, Scannevin is always working to keep her records. Sometimes, the movement is so sudden it can change overnight, pushing Scannevin to put her best foot forward every day.
“There was one meet where I broke a world record and when I woke up the next morning it had already been broken,” Scannevin said. “This is an incredibly competitive sport and keeping those records drives me to be the best version of myself.”
The first set of world records she broke were in the 16/17 age group where she did a 202.5–pound squat, a 122.5-pound bench and a 275-pound deadlift which in total is 600 total pounds lifted. Scannevin also holds a world record deadlift in the 18-19-year-old division, deadlifting a total of 310 pounds.
After those meets, she qualified for the elite division and moved on and broke three more world records. She broke the squat record, doing a 230–pound squat, broke the bench press record benching 145 pounds and she also continued the trend of breaking deadlift records as she did a 345-pound deadlift which adds up to a total of 720 pounds across all three lifts. Scannevin attempted to up her squat record once more, but was unable to squat 245 pounds.
“It really is an indescribable feeling,” Scannevin said. “The energy from the crowd at a powerlifting meet is insane. There’s always a mass of jacked people screaming for me and cheering me on, including guys that can squat and deadlift up to 800 pounds. The adrenaline of being on stage is the most nerve-wracking thing I ever experience.”
Though she’s gotten used to breaking records, nothing has met the moment she broke her first.
“I will never be able to top the feeling of breaking my first world record. I was 17 and I deadlifted 255 pounds,” Scannevin said. “In that moment, I could not stop crying. I have been through so much mentally and physically and I just kept thinking about all I had overcome. That was the greatest day of my life and that’s where I got my inspiration to become a strength coach and help other people through whatever they might be going through.”
Scannevin is an inspiration to so many. She continues to work extremely hard every day and continues to be a coach to many. Scannevin’s work ethic is something to admire and follow. Soon, Scannevin will break her own records and continue to set many more.
