Photo: Pawel Maronski/EdmoLift AB.
When Håkan Reher lay down on the bench for the competition’s final lift, the European Championship gold medal was already in the bag. With a lift of 245.5 kilograms, he had also broken the European record. Now all that remained was an attempt at 251.5 kilograms – and the chance to become a world record holder.
“I was pretty satisfied even then. But I knew we still had the world record to go for. So I just had to push even harder.”
Despite many competitions and major successes, the nervousness never goes away.
“You’re always nervous, but I was in good shape and felt I had more to give.”
The lift was approved. Håkan defended his European Championship gold medal, set a world record, and was named the championship’s best lifter. Of these three achievements, one carries particular weight.
“It’s the world record. That’s the one that counts the most.”
Lifts in Completely Different Formats
In his day job, Håkan works as an assembler at EdmoLift, in the department for custom-built lifting solutions. There, he builds customized solutions for businesses across multiple industries – from grocery stores and workshops to data centers, e-commerce, and the food, defense, and automotive industries.
The solutions vary greatly in size. They can range from lifting tables one to over seven meters long, moving materials a few meters or between multiple floors. Often, the tables are both large and heavy.
However, the connection between work and powerlifting isn’t just about lifting heavy weights. For Håkan, forethought and proper technique are just as important.
“Above all, it’s about pausing and thinking before you do anything. Whether I’m training or working, lifting technique is important. At work, we have good tools that make it easy to lift correctly.”
Photo: Pawel Maronski/EdmoLift AB.
Experience Helps Under Pressure
After many competitions, Håkan has learned how he reacts. He knows the nervousness will come, but also that it usually subsides when it’s time to perform. During the lift itself, he keeps it simple.
“Technically, there are only two things I need to think about. As long as I take care of those, I try not to overthink it. I stay calm and focus on what I need to do.”
With two European Championship titles, three Swedish Championship gold medals, a World Championship bronze medal, and a world record to his credit, his next goal is already set: first the Swedish Championships—preferably with a new Swedish record—and then the World Championships in Istanbul in 2027.