Waage competing at the Icelandic Cup (Photo sourced by Great Vegan Athletes)

An Icelandic athlete has smashed her own powerlifting record - no mean feat in a country where strength sports are incredibly popular.

Iceland has created many massive names in lifting and strength sports - including Hulda B Waage.

Taking part in the Icelandic Cup, Waage, 32, competed in the under 84kg category equipped (meaning straps and lifting belts are allowed) to break three records she already held.

ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website

Lifting

She squatted 212.5kg - almost three times her bodyweight- to break the record of 210kg she set in the European Championships earlier this year.

Her benchpress of 132.5kg beat her record of 125kg, also set at the European Championships.

She was disappointed with her deadlift of 177.5kg. The total of 522.5kg (over half a tonne) beat her own record of 515kg.

The meet didn’t go entirely to plan, as she hurt her back in the squat (which was the first lift).,

Waage eats a diet heavy in fruit and veg

Training

In training, Waage has lifted more, including a squat of 230kg, a bench of 140kg, and a 180kg deadlift.

ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website

ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website

She said: "Training has been going good. I've been recovering from shoulder injury, both shoulders, and finally I can say that now I'm ready for more and harder work.

"I did a heavier training total 4 weeks before the meet... I think next year will be interesting."

Weighing in at 78.1kg, she was very light for the category - but still won.

Waage’s Wilks score (which allows competitors across categories to be compared) of 484.7 was the highest women’s score and fourth overall.

Diet

Recently, Waage has been experimenting with intermittent fasting. She says: "I've been doing this intermittent fasting for a while. So there have been fewer meals but large. Lots of veggies and fruits."

She has spoken out before about following a vegan diet, saying: "There is obviously no problem being vegan and training hard. It´s pretty easy.

"No big fuss and nothing I should be careful of. What every athlete should do is what I do. Eat clean healthy and enough.

"My coach had a bit of a problem with this first, now he does not even care as long as I eat healthy and enough."

READ MORE:

Sales Booming After Cafe Goes Vegan - Owners Set To Open Second Branch

Animal Sentience Row: 'There Are Still A Lot Of Questions To Answer'

Doctors Talk About The 'Shocking Side Effects' Of A Vegan Diet