Chris Jenkins (powerlifter)

Christopher Jenkins is a Welsh powerlifter and strongman. He is a former junior World powerlifting champion and holds Welsh, British, European and World records in the powerlifts. Jenkins has been described as one of the greatest junior powerlifters of all time.

Early life

Chris Jenkins was raised in Port Talbot and was a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr. Jenkins began weight training at age 11 to improve his running at school.

Chris Jenkins was coached in his teens, by Welsh Weightlifter Mike Brown at his private home gym in Margam, Port Talbot. Brown also coached double Commonwealth Weightlifting medalist Gareth Hives.

Competition Record

British Senior National Championships (18–19) 82.5 kg teenage division junior 90 kg division junior 90 kg division open & junior 90 kg division open & junior 90 kg division open 90 kg division open 90 kg division open 90 kg division open 82.5 kg division open 100 kg  division open 100 kg  division open 90 kg  division open 90 kg  division Junior 90 kg division Junior 90 kg division junior 90 kg division open 90 kg division open 90 kg division open 82.5 kg division open 90 kg division open 82.5 kg  division

open 100 kg division open 100 kg division open 82.5 kg  division open 82.5 kg  division

Powerlifting career

Chris Jenkins competed in his first powerlifting contest in 1999, winning the 17-19 teenage 90kg division and breaking the Welsh deadlift record with 252.5kg.

Jenkins competed in his first British powerlifting championships in 2000, winning the 18/19 teenage class, breaking the British and European senior deadlift record of 282.5 kg at 82.5 kg bodyweight.

In 2001 he won his first junior world title in Dallas, Texas. Jenkins holds the junior world record deadlift of 331 kg at 90 kg bodyweight and has been described as one of the biggest talents in British Powerlifting.

Jenkins also holds a WR deadlift in the International Strength Association with 352.5 kg (775.5 lbs) set at 90 kg (198 lbs) bodyweight in Fort Worth, Texas in 2007.

In Strongman Chris Jenkins is a three time winner of Wales Strongest Man U90kg and is coached by former Weightlifter and Olympian Natasha Perdue.

Best equipped lifts

• Squat - 821 lbs (~372.5 kg) -2006 BPC British Powerlifting championships. Maidstone, Kent. Age 25, Open division. Multiply, 90kg class, weight 88.2kg.
• Bench press - 534 lbs (~235.5 kg) -2009 WPC World Powerlifting championships. Bournemouth, England. Age 29, Open division. Multi-ply, 90kg class, weight 89.9kg.
• Deadlift - 815.71 lbs (~370kg kg) -BPC 2008 UK open championships. Folkestone, England. Age 27, Open division. Multi-ply, 90k class, weight 89.7kg.

Other lifts

Axle Press - 363 lbs, (~165 kg) 2013 Giants live contest, Bala, North Wales.

Axle Press - 377 lbs, (~171 kg) Welsh Open record, previously held by Gavin Bilton -375 lbs, (~170 kg) 2024, Aberavon shopping centre.

Yoke carry - 800 lbs, (~362.5 kg) 2021 Official Strongman Games, Daytona Beach, Florida

References