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Dieppe student one of the strongest people in the world

Dieppe student one of the strongest people in the world

A Dieppe athlete is one of the strongest men on the planet. Cheick Sanou, 22, weighs 140 kilograms, but can lift twice that amount of weight over his head.

The 22-year-old recently attended the World Powerlifting Championships in Florida and set two world records in the bench press and deadlift in the 20 to 23-year-old division. He lifted 218 and 308 kilograms, respectively.

Sanou was already the Canadian record holder in both categories in his weight class.

Sanou and his brother Zoumana Sanou moved from Burkina Faso to Moncton to study at the University of Moncton. While working out, they met a kinesiology student who saw something in Cheick.

“I saw him and he was really strong for his age,” said Diego Martin.

Martin approached the two and soon began working out with them. With Martin’s kinesiology background, he helped the brothers learn proper weightlifting techniques.

Zoumana thinks the sky is the limit for his brother’s potential in the powerlifting world.

“I'm really proud of him and I think he will go really far in this sport,” he said.

Cheick appreciates the support from his brother, and that of the broader Canadian community.

“I feel like people care about me, so I have to work hard every time,” he said.