Wisconsin weightlifter will attempt to break record after undergoing heart surgery at UW Health

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Wisconsin man gets the chance to keep doing what he loves after undergoing quintuple bypass surgery at UW Health in Madison. 

Michael Love says he's been passionate about exercise since he was a teenager. It wasn't until later he discovered a love for weightlifting. 

Michael says he thought he'd have to end his lifting career last year after having chest pains while training for a national competition. But the team at UW Health worked with him to help him get back to doing what he loves. 

"I said this is my life, I'm going to break the deadlift record and I'm not changing that because of this, and so they did an amazing job," said Love.

For Love’s age and weight class, the national record for deadlifting was to lift approximately 452 pounds. In July 2022, just 13 months after quintuple bypass surgery and weighing just 165 pounds himself, he lifted 457.5.

Michael says he's not letting this setback stop him from breaking his own weightlifting record.

In February he'll attempt to lift 500 lbs. 

Michael says his experience taught him to be grateful for the present moment while continuing to strive toward the next goal.