Josh Hancott lifts his way to world champion status

St. John's athlete Josh Hancott set a new record at the International Powerlifting Federation Championships, making him the new world champion in his weight class.

Hancott, 20, made the announcement from his personal Twitter account on Wednesday.

Hancott says he secured his new title with a winning squat of 552 pounds, a bench press of 352 pounds and dead lift of 597 pounds. His total weight lifted was 1502 pounds.

"I broke down and cried. Couldn't help it," he tweeted from Johannesburg, South Africa where the competition was being held.

"Even strong guys have soft hearts, the true north strong and free."

Just over a year ago Hancott seta world record at his first international lift in the U.S..

Hancott is a business student at Memorial University.