Doyle Kenady, born August 29, 1948, passed away on February 3, 1999.
Today, Doyle is perhaps best known for his deadlift during his career as a competitive powerlifter, but he was phenomenal in all three lifts and an outstanding strength athlete. At World’s Strongest Man 1983 in New Zealand, he placed 7th, despite appearing somewhat unsuited for the event due to his stockier build, standing 178 cm / 5 ft 10 in (70 in) tall and weighing 135 kg / 298 lbs.
Doyle competed at the 1974 World Championships, placing second behind Don Reinhoudt in the super heavyweight class, which at the time was +110 kg / +243 lbs. He totaled an impressive 950 kg / 2,094 lbs, consisting of 365 kg / 805 lbs in the squat, 235 kg / 518 lbs in the bench press, and 350 kg / 772 lbs in the deadlift. It was not until the late 1970s that Doyle truly began to demonstrate his deadlift potential in competition. Like many lifters, his limiting factor was grip strength rather than back or leg power.
At the 1977 U.S. Championships, Doyle entered as the heavy favorite in the super heavyweight class. He had improved significantly over the previous year, and a total exceeding 1,000 kg / 2,205 lbs was expected. Unfortunately, he bombed out in the squat and failed to place. He returned the following year stronger than ever, posting a 1,037.5 kg / 2,288 lbs total, qualifying him for the 1978 World Championships in Finland.
At the 1978 Worlds, Doyle put on a spectacular performance, squatting over 400 kg / 882 lbs, bench pressing 250 kg / 551 lbs, and attempting 402.5 kg / 887 lbs in the deadlift. This would have surpassed Don Reinhoudt’s 400 kg / 882 lbs world record.
Doyle went on to win both his first U.S. National Championship and his first World Championship in 1978. He attempted 402.5 kg / 887 lbs again at the 1979 Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships, but missed the lift. This would not be his last attempt at a deadlift world record in Hawaii. Doyle continued to win several major titles in the sport.
He captured his second U.S. National title as well as the World Championship in 1980, and also won the World Series of Powerlifting that same year. In 1981, he won the super heavyweight division at the inaugural World Games.
Later in the 1980s, after failing to qualify for Worlds through nationals, Doyle focused on record-breaker competitions to chase his long-awaited deadlift record. Attempts at 402.5 kg / 887 lbs became less compelling after 1982, when Dan Wohleber, just 21 years old, pulled the first 900 lbs / 408.2 kg deadlift on December 12, 1982, in the –125 kg / –275 lbs class. Although not officially recognized as a world record, it was the heaviest deadlift ever performed at the time.
From that point on, Doyle aimed higher than both 900 lbs and 402.5 kg / 887 lbs. He frequently entered Record Breakers competitions, often performing only minimal “token” lifts in the squat and bench press, sometimes as low as 60–65 kg / 132–143 lbs, to conserve energy for the deadlift. Ironically, it was during a competition where he did not hold back in the squat and bench that he finally broke the record.
At the 1986 Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships, then known as the Budweiser World Record Breakers, Doyle squatted 385 kg / 849 lbs and attempted 417.5 kg / 920 lbs. His previous best squat was 415 kg / 915 lbs. In the bench press, he went a perfect three-for-three, finishing with 247.5 kg / 546 lbs.
In the deadlift, he opened with 377.5 kg / 833 lbs, followed by 395 kg / 871 lbs, a competition personal best. In his third attempt, he pulled 410 kg / 904 lbs, which appeared relatively comfortable. He was granted a fourth attempt at 417.5 kg / 920 lbs, but failed. The competition resulted in a 1,042.5 kg / 2,298 lbs total, his second-best ever. With a slightly more conservative squat attempt, he likely would have exceeded 1,050 kg / 2,315 lbs.
After this performance, Doyle’s career gradually declined. He competed a few more times and made additional record attempts but never quite reached the same heights again. There are claims that Doyle squatted and deadlifted 1,000 lbs / 453.6 kg in training. Given his competition bests of 415 kg / 915 lbs in the squat and 410 kg / 904 lbs in the deadlift, this is not impossible. The squat was reportedly done with only knee wraps and a belt, and depth may not have met competition standards.
The deadlift, however, is more legendary. The image often cited is said to depict that lift, which allegedly occurred in 1981, the same year he twice pulled 415 kg / 915 lbs at the Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships. From the image, it appears he may not have been fully locked out, or his grip may have been failing. There are also rumors that he pulled 1,100 lbs / 499 kg with straps in training during the 1980s. While this may have occurred from an elevated position or under special conditions, a 1,100-lb pull from the floor, even with straps, seems highly unlikely.
Doyle’s Best Competition Lifts
Without a lifting suit, using only knee wraps and a belt (early career):
- Squat: 398.5 kg / 879 lbs
- Bench press: 251.7 kg / 555 lbs
- Deadlift: 351.5 kg / 775 lbs
- Total: 991.5 kg / 2,186 lbs
With knee wraps, belt, and a lifting suit in the squat and deadlift:
- Squat: 415 kg / 915 lbs
- Bench press: 255 kg / 562 lbs
- Deadlift: 410 kg / 904 lbs
- Total: 1,045 kg / 2,304 lbs
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