Jay Cook failed at his first attempt.
Not surprising, considering he was trying to lift 338.5 kilgrams (745 pounds) with a squat lift at the Global Powerlifting national championships in Calgary.
Rather than fret about it, the 27-year-old Cook gathered his thoughts and came back with a record-breaking display of strength. Minutes after another competitor in the 100-kilogram open division lifted 321kg (707lb) to break a four-year-old Canadian record, Cook took the barbell and squatted 338.5 pounds, then topped out at a record 365kg (805lb).
His record remained untouched and Cook went on to win gold in the three-lift event, which also includes bench press and deadlifting.
"I'd never missed my first attempt on squatting before," said Cook, one of five X-Conditioning athletes who took part in the event on Saturday.
"The record got broken three times in the span of 10 minutes. I just had to stay the course with my mechanics and after I got my second attempt at 745 I decided to go for it at 805."
Cook's topped out at 386 pounds (175kg) in the bench press and he deadlifted 245kg (540lb).
Cook won the silver medal the previous two years at the competition.
"I was tired after that, it was a 14-hour day," Cook said. "There were 60 competitors and it was just a long day."
In other Prince George results, Craig Horswell won silver in the 100kg raw (unequipped, without a lifting suit) division. Horswell, in his first powerlifting national appearance, squatted 185kg (408lb), bench-pressed 125 kg (276lb) and deadlifted 207.5kg (457lb).
Brad Priore claimed gold in the 90kg raw division. He squatted 142.5kg (314lb), bench-pressed 90kg (198lb) and deadlifted 182.5kg (402lb).
Tara Green turned in a spectacular performance and won the best female raw lifter award as champion of the 67.5kg weight class. Her best deadlift was 147.5kg (325lb). She was able to bench 67.5kg (149lb) and she squatted 137.5kg (303lb).
Mike Webber hurt his knee trying to squat 945 pounds and was forced to drop out of the three-lift event, but did win his 140kg weight class in the bench press-only event. He lifted 247.5 kg (545lbs).
