S'porean student, 18, breaks deadlift world record, juggles school & part-time work to fund his dream

At the age of 18, Singaporean powerlifter Muhammad Hazrul has broken a world record.

Hazrul, a student at Temasek Polytechnic, was competing at the 2026 IPF World Championships in Sun City, South Africa, on Aug. 21.

He deadlifted 273kg, breaking the previous world record of 271kg in the Sub-Junior Men's 66kg category.

The student also placed second overall in his category.

Speaking to Mothership, Hazrul shared that getting to the world stage took more than just hours in the gym.

Failed to make it to football team

As a kid, Hazrul was always keen on sports.

But when he failed to make it to the football team in secondary school, he joined a gym "to pass the time".

One of his seniors noticed him and thought he had potential. He introduced him to powerlifting, and Hazrul took to it like a duck to water.

For the past three and a half years, the teen has been training in the sport. Last year, he entered the 2025 Singapore Nationals and finished second.

It was an achievement, but he had an even bigger dream: The World Championships. "I told myself that I would work as hard as possible to achieve that goal," he said.

Almost burnt out

To fund his way to the World Championships, he took up a part-time job at an Anytime Fitness gym.

The teen refused to ask his mum for money, even after she offered. He knew supporting his dream financially would be difficult for her.

So he pushed himself to fund his dream himself.

Hazrul had to balance his work alongside studying and training. "I would go to school, train, return home, and study. Or I would go to school, work, return home, and study," he told Mothership.

"It was extremely difficult to sustain because it felt as though I was working every day without a break...

I often asked myself, 'How many more shifts can I take before I burn out?'"

In addition to work, he had to give up social activities and closely manage his diet as he prepared for the competition. Some days, he felt "completely empty", he said.

“It was an extremely lonely journey, but what kept me going was knowing that every sacrifice brought me closer to the dream I wanted most."

Breaking a world record

After months of hard work, Hazrul made it to South Africa.

But upon stepping onto the platform, he felt "extremely nervous". "The crowd, and the thought of thousands of people watching me through the livestream got the better of me," he confessed.

On his second attempt, he tried the record-breaking weight.

But he failed because of cramps and competition jitters.

With one attempt left, Hazrul knew it was his last chance to succeed.

He returned to the platform, felt the weight of the bar, and pushed himself until the bar moved upward.

Then came the three white lights, confirming that the lift attempt was successful.

He had deadlifted 273kg, breaking the previous 271kg world record.

Overwhelmed, he fell to the ground before a coach helped him back to his feet.

It was the culmination of months of hard work — "not only in the gym but also working to earn enough money to chase this dream", he said.

"I felt an overwhelming sense of joy... The experience made every sacrifice I had made feel truly worthwhile."

Tears of joy

Hazrul finished second overall in his category with a 613kg total.

He recorded a 220kg squat, 120kg bench press and 273kg deadlift, finishing just 7kg behind the world champion.

Standing on the podium with a silver medal around his neck, Hazrul said he felt a "sense of pride" representing Singapore on the world stage.

But it was only later that night, while sitting on a shuttle back to his hotel, that Hazrul fully realised what he had achieved.

As he thought about his months of sacrifices that resulted in his record-breaking attempt, he cried tears of joy.

His family's support

Behind the achievement was, of course, the support of his family.

The teen calls his mother his biggest supporter. Throughout his powerlifting journey, she listened to his problems, attended his competitions, and was present through the highs and lows.

"Whenever she is there, I always notice her and hear her voice first," he said.

He also credits his older brother as being the "father figure" who pushed him to become the independent young man he is today.

"He played an important role in shaping me into someone with strong mental fortitude," he explained.

As this is his final year in the Sub-Junior category, Hazrul now has his sights set on becoming a Junior Under-23 World Champion.

"Breaking a world record at 18 taught me that dreams are not meant to remain in your head. If there is something you truly want, you will not stop working towards it," he said.

"I will continue working hard and, most importantly, enjoying the process of becoming the athlete and person I aspire to be."