Slivovsky broke a U.S. women’s record with a 292-lbs. deadlift, clearing the previous record by more than five pounds.
Celina Oseguera
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Professors have lives outside of their campus duties. Some write, hike or bake.
Cal Poly electrical and computer engineering professor Lynne Slivovsky powerlifts.
Slivovsky broke a United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) record in the American category at the International Powerlifting League World Championships in Las Vegas this past weekend. The record was for the raw deadlift.
According to USPA, Slivovsky deadlifted 292 pounds. This cleared the previous record by more than five pounds.
“I knew that I had lifted the 292 but had to wait for the judges to call it a good lift,” Slivovksy said. “That’s when it all became real and surreal at the same time.”
When the referee indicated the lift was legitimate, the three people who accompanied Slivovksy to the competition — her coach Joseph Lea, powerlifting training partner Maria Dwyer and life partner Kristen Kent — yelled in excitement, she said.
All three are Cal Poly alumni.
In order to get into the International Powerlifting World Championships, Slivovsky and Dwyer had to qualify at the Central California Open powerlifting competition in mid-October, she said.
Both women made the qualifying mark and proceeded to the next level, Slivovsky said.
Slivovsky said Dwyer and her only trained three months for both competitions.
Some students and other professors in the electrical engineering department knew that Slivovsky powerlifted, but others such as electrical engineering professor Xiao-Hua Yu were surprised by the news.
“I didn’t know she was that powerful,” Yu said.
The professors who did know had respect for Slivovsky’s strength, Slivovsky said.
“They think it’s cool,” she said. “They think I’m strong.”