In 2021, married couple Sam Taylor and Sue Taylor-Franklin (UK) worked together to perform an incredible feat of strength – moving a 48-tonne aeroplane.
In doing so, they broke the record for the fastest 20 m A320 aircraft pull by a team of two (female) with a time of 37.63 seconds.
Recently, they decided to attempt another record: the heaviest deadlift by a team of two (female).
Unfortunately, Sue’s knee was injured, so she was unable to take part. This was a big blow to the team, as Sam readily admits that Sue is the better deadlifter of the two.
Regardless, they weren’t going to let this get in the way of their record attempt, so they roped in their close friend, Izzy Tait, to take Sue’s place.
Izzy is a powerlifter just like Sam and Sue, and she’s equally faced tough battles with injuries. She has a brain condition called callosal syndrome, or split-brain, which was caused by nerve damage in 2015. Izzy was temporarily paralyzed as a result and still suffers from epilepsy to this day.
“It is what it is. I have fits and blackouts and things like that, but I just get on with it; muddle through,” she said.
Izzy and Sam weren’t able to train together before the record attempt, due to the fact that Izzy lives in Scotland and Sam lives in Wales.
Regardless, Sam was “very confident” that they’d break the record.
The attempt took place at the UK's Strongest Woman event at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham. The record to beat was 290.75 kg (641 lb).
Remarkably, Sam and Izzy broke it on their first attempt.
Not only did they break the record, but they completely blew it out of the water, achieving a deadlift of 452.5 kg (997.5 lb).
“We just rocked up and broke a world record,” Sam joked afterwards.
And Izzy believes they can improve even further: “I don’t want to say it was easy – it was heavy – but there’s definitely a lot more there, so watch this space.”
This June, along with millions of others around the globe, Guinness World Records are celebrating Pride Month.
For Sam, Pride Month is “vitally important.”
She said: “It’s a chance to reflect on history and the people that went before me to give me the freedoms that I’ve got today. That’s why it’s important for people like myself and my wife to be out there promoting equality.”
Sam and Sue have found that the sport of powerlifting, along with the Strongwoman community, “definitely embraces diversity.”
“We would describe ourselves probably as all misfits that have come together in this crazy sport, so for me, being gay, it’s welcoming because it doesn’t matter,” Sam explained.
“It doesn’t matter who you are; it’s this little world that sort of welcomes you in. It’s a great community.”
Congratulations Izzy, Sam and Sue – you are Officially Amazing!
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