Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Deadlifts 850 Pounds At Iron Wars IV, Still Hopes To Qualify For Olympia

Pro Bodybuilding

Joe Mackey is a professional bodybuilder who is able to reach massive numbers with his deadlift.

Joe Mackey is a professional bodybuilder but he has been putting up numbers in the gym looking like a powerlifter. He continued to show off his impressive deadlifts during CT Fletcher’s Iron abs IV on Friday. Mackey stepped up to 850 pounds on the bar and was able to make it look light in front of the cord gathered at Fletcher’s Iron Addicts Gym in Signal Hill, CA.

Mackey stepped up to the weight using a double overhand grip while wearing lifting straps and a lifting belt. He was able to lock out the bar with little struggle. In his Instagram captions, Mackey revealed that he is preparing for a bodybuilding competition and was lighter than usual during this lift.

“850 lbs tonight at Iron wars with @c.t.ali.fletcher!

Let me remind you, I’m in prep for my next bodybuilding show and I’ve lost 15 lbs since I’ve pulled 900 lbs a month ago.

I’m happy to see that 850 lbs still feels very smooth!! “

Joe Mackey did not reveal what bodybuilding show he is preparing for but it is clear that his goal is to earn qualification to the Olympia in December. Mackey will have to pickup a victory at a show to punch his ticket.

This 850-pound lift is not the heaviest that Mackey has attempted. He was able to reach the 900-pound mark in training but admitted that he was lighter during this lift.

Joe Mackey began competing in the IFBB in 2017. He placed eighth during the 2020 Tampa Pro, which was the best of his career. Mackey competed just once in 2021 during the Chicago Pro. He has yet to make his debut in 2022 but is clear that he is preparing for a return to the bodybuilding world.

“I made it up in my mind that I’d do 850 lbs prior to the event regardless of how lean I am for prep.

I knew that my weight had dropped 20 lbs since last time I did 900 lbs, however that didn’t stop me from knowing what I could still do to show up and show out.”

It is extremely impressive to see the eight that is being moved by Joe Mackey recently. It is even more impressive when learning that he preparing to make a return to bodybuilding.

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Greg Patuto
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.