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Fourteen-year-old Jake Schellenschlager, who weighs 119 pounds and describes himself as a powerlifter, made headlines recently by deadlifting 300 pounds (nearly triple his body weight). Training under a coach’s supervision since 2011, Schellenschlager has been called a powerlifting phenomenon and the “Wonder Kid” after putting in impressive squat, bench press, and deadlift numbers. While Schellenschlager is only one example of the thousands of young competitive powerlifters across the United States, his story brings to light some important questions regarding the effect of extreme sports on developing bodies.
(Curious what this muscle-bound kid looks like? Check it out here.)
With kids as young as three years old joining specialized youth CrossFit groups and 10- to 12- year-olds running marathons, it seems like participants involved in extreme sports are getting younger and younger
Unfortunately, not much research exists on the safety behind youth strength training. Some studies show that a well-planned program does not interfere with growth and can be a safe and effective activity for children
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