The 2025 NPC Jay Cutler Desert Classic was held in Las Vegas, NV, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Many fans were in attendance to see potential bodybuilding stars of the future. Powerlifting fans were also in the building because they recognized one of the athletes standing onstage before the judges.
Multi-time world record-setting powerlifter Joe Sullivan debuted on a bodybuilding stage as one of the Men’s Bodybuilding contestants. He is the most recent powerlifting star to trade in a singlet for a pair of trunks, following Hunter Henderson, Marianna Gasparyan, and his coach/partner, Brianny Terry.
Sullivan made the most out of his first competitive bodybuilding experience, competing in the True Novice and Open Heavyweight categories. He won his True Novice show and ranked second in Open Heavyweight.
I said I would nail every possible controllable variable. I had the best coaches in my corner.
—Joe Sullivan
Before his bodybuilding debut, Sullivan was known as one of the most successful powerlifters in the 100-kilogram category. He set the all-time world record in the squat for that weight class multiple times. His career-best lift is 386 kilograms scored in 2023. Tyler Williamson pushed that record to 387.5 kilograms in March 2025
Sullivan has not shared his future competitive plans in either sport. He would have to win an Open NPC show to compete at the national level.
It would not be unheard of for another powerlifter to earn IFBB Pro League status. Terry and Gasparyan both have. Henderson is considered among the most successful athletes in both sports, having ranked 14th at the 2024 Ms. Olympia.
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Featured Image: @joesullivan_aod on Instagram
