NORFOLK, Neb. — A weightlifter from northeast Nebraska is making a name for himself in the body-building world.

Norfolk native Hunter Bowers recently competed in the World Hex Bar Deadlift Championships in Minnesota and was named world champion for ages 18 and under.

The World Deadlift Council has Bowers as the 11th-ranked lbs.-for-lbs. lifter in the world.

Bowers said he still can’t believe what he has been able to accomplish at such a young age.

“I guess it didn’t really set in until after I got home,” Bowers said. “It didn’t really set in until I saw the number on the Instagram site and Google and I was like ‘woah, that’s my name up there for the world record’. “

Recently though, Bowers injured his foot while doing a deadlift exercise that required him to get surgery.

Bowers added while he was upset with the injury, he’s not calling it a setback for what he wants to accomplish moving forward.

“At first I was like ‘oh no, I’m going to be out for months’,” Bowers said. “But I wouldn’t really call it a setback. I’d call it more of a learning experience. I know when I come back, my deadlift will be stronger than ever.”

He’s expecting to be out for around six weeks before things go back to normal.

Bowers actually started with mixed martial arts activities before finding his true passion in competitive weightlifting.

“I was actually going for MMA classes and it set the bar,” Bowers said. “I just started lifting weights there. It was like this is definitely what I want to do.”

Bowers mentioned some of his childhood heroes growing up like Eddie Hall for setting the bar and helping him find his true passion in life.

“I watched Eddie Hall deadlift 500 kilos,” Bowers said. “Everyone thought it was impossible and he just shut everybody up. It was just amazing.”

The Norfolk native goes to Northeast Community College and some of his classmates have no idea how Bowers does what he does.

“The number one response is ‘dude, you’re crazy’,“ Bowers said.

Despite all of his success, Bowers said his family is what makes all of this possible.

“They help me…