Elite powerlifter Jesus Olivares has won three back-to-back classic world titles in the International Powerlifting Championships (IPF). He raised the first place trophy at the inaugural 2023 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, along with the £30,000 (approx. $37,800) in prize money.
At Sheffield 2023, Olivares achieved the biggest raw (in knee sleeves) total in the world with 1,152.5 kilograms (2,541 pounds). He also set the IPF deadlift world record that day at 410 kilograms (904 pounds) in front of 1,700 screaming fans in City Hall, Sheffield, UK.
Olivares seems to like hitting big lifts on the holidays. He celebrated Halloween 2023 with a 463-kilogram (1,020-pound) raw squat. For Thanksgiving, Olivares shared a video on his Instagram page wherein he pulled an easy-looking 415-kilogram (915-pound) raw deadlift. Check it out below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0AH5kzg9ie/
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Olivares set up in a conventional stance, in which the hands grip outside the legs, and used only a lifting belt to assist him in the lift. He stretched tall before bending and gripping the barbell, rolling it toward him just a fraction before dropping his hips and starting the lift.
Failure is the precursor to success.
The lift was smooth and comfortable for the majority of the lift, nearly to lockout. Olivares’ grip failed right at the top of the pull, causing him to drop the bar prematurely. Although he acknowledged that the lift would not pass in sanctioned competition, he said in the caption of his post that he still counted the lift as a gym PR. It certainly bodes well for a platform PR next time he competes.
Olivares is training for the 2024 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships. He secured his place by winning the 2023 edition of the contest and is one of the favorites to defend his top spot. In addition to the opportunity to break IPF world records, Sheffield 2024 carries a huge prize pool of £445,000 (approx. $561,000), with a potential maximum payout to a single athlete of £45,000 (approx. $57,000).
Sheffield 2024 will take place in Sheffield, UK, on Feb. 10, 2024. It will be live-streamed for free on the SBD Apparel YouTube channel.
Featured image: @mega.gojira on Instagram