Vijai ‘Antsman’ Rahim: Aiming to break world’s deadlift record of 709 pounds

By Brandon Corlette

Vijai ‘Antsman’ Rahim is the reigning equipped overall national powerlifting champion in Guyana. Hailing from Rosignol village on the West Coast of Berbice in Region 5, Rahim is aiming to break the world’s deadlift record of 709 pounds. In an exclusive interview with this daily publication, Rahim disclosed that he is “almost there” in his quest to break that record.
“I am very close to the world record, I am deadlifting 705 pounds, so I have to put in the work. I need a bit more help with the expenses, but Fitness Express is giving me one protein (of my choice) per month, so I am getting some big help from them,” Rahim said.

Using those proteins, Rahim said, he is able to recover faster and push in more training sessions.

Rahim is the first person in Berbice to deadlift 700lbs, and he is also the lightest person in the country to deadlift 700lbs. He says he is able to deadlift 4.4 times his bodyweight.

A simple and humble person, Rahim owns a well-equipped gym, and trains consistently during this COVID-19 pandemic. Rahim describes his gym as an invaluable investment which he created to help others in the community.
“The whole purpose of the gym is to help people. One set is the youths on the streets that are hooked on substances, and the other set of people are those who suffer from complications such as pressure, and sugar. So, people need help,” Rahim explained.
Rahim says he is motivated by his achievements, and that his biggest challenge is bettering the records he sets every time he competes.
He said his fascination with powerlifting began in his childhood days, when he grew up witnessing individuals train in the community.
“I was a weightlifter, and the gym instructor showed me the techniques, and I began preparation for a competition wherein I broke the junior record. So breaking records is something I have always been doing,” Rahim explained.
Back in 2013, when he participated in the Caribbean Championships that were held in the US Virgin Islands, he earned a double gold medal and set a Commonwealth record by deadlifting 59kg.
Employed at the Blairmont Estate as a constable, a gym instructor and a personal trainer, Rahim is a married father of two. He said he had faced many challenges when he was unemployed, since powerlifting, like many other sporting disciplines, is expensive in nature.
In offering encouragement to powerlifters, Rahim said safety is important, and the powerlifting technique is important.
Today, Rahim is on the verge of greatness, and he is hoping he is successful in breaking the world deadlift record when the opportunity arises.