14 DAY TRIAL // Jake Schellenschlager is one of the world's strongest kids as he managed to lift double his weight in famous USA Powerlifting competition. The 14-year-old is trying to leave his mark in the sport's category by breaking and setting new world records.
The teen is not your usual 14-year-old as he has been dedicating all his strength and time to becoming a known face in the powerlifting category since the age of 12. Following on his father’s footsteps, Jake started training in the family's garage and then went all the way to train with professionals in the gym.
While training for the competition, the ambitious teen believed he would fit into the 114-pound (51.7 kilograms) category, but ended up competing in the 123 pound (55.8 kilograms) one after the scale pointed to 119 pounds (54 kilograms).
With a lot of work put into training and an incredible mental strength, Jake succeeded into lifting 300 pounds (136 kilograms), double his body weight, amazing spectators and making the crowd go wild. The teen got the name Wonder-Kid and admits he gets his motivation from his father as, in his eyes, he is the strongest man alive.
“He told me he wanted to be the strongest kid in the world one day,” Jake's father, Chris says, according to Jakes Fitness Life website. The youngest teens to compete in USA Powerlifting are 14 and usually fit in the 114-pound category, but Jake managed to make himself known after taking it one step forward.
The boy's trainer, Mike Sarni, believes that Jake's mental strength is his most astonishing feature. “He doesn't feel he can be defeated. It is that inner strength that tells him ‘I can do this.’ Usually, you only get that in older, more mature people,” Sarni says, notes Daily Mail.
Even if the American Academy of Pediatrics believes heavy-lifting can be dangerous for teens, they support it, but accompanied by maximum care. The risks are bigger for teens due to their rapid growth and, if they don't train carefully and adjust the weights to their bodies, they can end up with life-long injuries.
Jake's parents know the risks their son is facing and work together toward securing a healthy and rationale workout schedule for their child. They believe his hobbies are way better than sitting on the couch and playing video games all day.