After joining a gym to boost his confidence, nine-year-old Jackson Mackay from the Sunshine Coast is making headlines again. Just 18 months into his weightlifting journey, Jackson is aiming for his second world record deadlift title. In January, he achieved a remarkable feat by lifting 80 kilograms, surpassing the previous record of 72 kilograms.
“I can’t believe I just beat a world record. That’s insane, I never thought it would come to this,” Jackson exclaimed. His achievement was verified by Kids World Records, which awarded him the Heaviest Deadlift Title in the boys’ 7-9-year-old category.
From Sudden Inspiration to Record-Breaking Success
The young athlete from Twin Waters revealed that his desire to achieve a weightlifting goal emerged suddenly. “I just woke up and… because I was at the gym, I’m like, ‘Well, gyms are for weights, so I’m gonna break a world record,'” Jackson shared. He dedicated three hours a week to training over 18 months, initially using a hex bar for core stability before transitioning to a standard straight bar for his record-breaking lift.
For Jackson, achieving this goal was an emotional moment. “My parents were jumping up and down in excitement and, like, impressed and… my mum even cried,” he recalled. Jackson’s mother, Cara Mackay, expressed her disbelief and pride, stating, “He’d set this goal a year before, and he wrote out on a piece of paper what he wanted to achieve in the next 10 years, and seeing him actually achieve that was just amazing.”
The Support Behind the Success
Strength and conditioning coach Joshua Hodges, who has been training Jackson since October 2024, described witnessing Jackson’s achievement as “really special” and “a little bit emotional.” He noted, “Jackson just started to well up with joy and then Cara, seeing her son achieve that, started to [cry]. I was like, ‘How cool is this?’ I get to be a part of this moment Jackson’s wanted to do for quite a while now.”
Initially drawn to weightlifting for its social aspect after leaving rugby league, Jackson has found a supportive community in the gym. “We sort of found that he was quite strong for his age, he was quite determined,” Mr. Hodges said. “He came to me just to help build that self-confidence back, really … he’s got back into team sports since being with us, so his confidence has grown.”
With newfound confidence, Jackson is already setting his sights on a new goal: “I might do the 10-year-old record for deadlift,” he announced.
The Science of Youth Weightlifting
University of the Sunshine Coast sports and exercise scientist Daniel Van Den Hoek weighed in on the benefits of weightlifting for children and adolescents. “We hear myths like resistance training stunts growth, and it damages growth plates, but those things, they’re just not true,” Dr. Van Den Hoek explained. “Resistance training is quite healthy as long as we make sure that it’s supervised and progressed correctly.”
He highlighted the benefits of weightlifting, which include improved mental health, better performance at school, muscle growth, and injury reduction. Dr. Van Den Hoek also suggested that Jackson’s engagement in other sports like rugby league, wakeboarding, and motocross may have contributed to his success in the gym. “We see it at the elite levels of Australian sport… [athletes] that have grown up playing multiple sports, getting new skills, new knowledge about how their body moves and adapts that they then apply to each of those different sports,” he said.
According to Dr. Van Den Hoek, engaging in diverse sports from a young age is beneficial for children, providing a foundation for later specialization.
Looking Ahead
Jackson Mackay’s story is not just one of personal triumph but also a testament to the positive impact of sports on young lives. As he continues to break records and set new goals, Jackson serves as an inspiration to many young athletes. His journey underscores the importance of determination, support, and the joy of pursuing one’s passions.
As Jackson eyes the 10-year-old deadlift record, his story will undoubtedly continue to inspire and capture the attention of sports enthusiasts worldwide.
