The 2022 Arnold Sports Festival (ASF) was decorated with big moments and even bigger world records. 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry claimed his second Arnold Classic title, and 2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Martins Licis earned his first Arnold Strongman Classic crown. Additionally, a bevy of records were shattered during the Rogue Record Breakers event, including Trey Mitchell’s Thor Hammer hold, Kevin Faires continued dominance with the Dinnie Stones, and Tamara Walcott adding the Elephant Bar deadlift record to her eventual G.O.A.T. resume.
Ashton Rouska competed in the 2022 ASF Grand Prix at a bodyweight of 103.79 kilograms and scored the following gold-medal performance, which includes a USA Powerlifting (USAPL) raw squat record:
2022 Arnold Sports Festival Grand Prix — Ashton Rouska | Bodyweight: 103.79 Kilograms
- Squat
- 325 kilograms (716.5 pounds)
- 355 kilograms (782.6 pounds)
- 370 kilograms (815.7 pounds)
- Bench Press
- 195 kilograms (429.9 pounds)
- 205 kilograms (452 pounds)
210 kilograms (463 pounds)
- Deadlift
- 335 kilograms (738.6 pounds)
- 380 kilograms (837.8 pounds)
- Total — 955 kilograms (2,105.4 pounds)
- DOTS — 578.677
Rouska went seven for eight in attempts, opting not to make a third deadlift attempt. His final DOTS score was over 23 points more than runner-up Jon “Deuce” Gruden competing at a bodyweight of 82.09 kilograms. For reference, athletes of different weight classes competed against each other via Dynamic Objective Team Scoring System (DOTS) score, which ranks athletes of the same gender in different weight classes against each other. Check out Rouska’s USAPL record lift in the video below, courtesy of his Instagram page:
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[Related: Powerlifter John LaFlamme (83KG) Squats 193.5 Kilograms (426.6 Pounds) Raw at Age 71]
According to Open Powerlifting, Rouska exceeded the previous USAPL raw squat record he held since the 2021 USAPL Virginia Pro by 2.5 kilograms. His 370-kilogram (815.7-pound) squat was over three-and-a-half times his body weight and is 10 kilograms shy of Joe Sullivan‘s all-time American raw squat record in the 105-kilogram class, scored at the 2021 WRPF The Bucked Up Showdown.
Rouska’s total at the 2022 ASF Grand Prix in Columbus, OH, matched his performance from the 2021 USAPL Virginia Pro, which moved him into second place all-time for heaviest American record total at 105 kilograms. The current record of 962.5 kilograms (2,122 pounds) hit at the 2019 SPF Slingshot Record Breakers is currently held by Cailer Woolam.
The 2022 ASF marked the heaviest competitive bodyweight Rouska has ever competed at. His bodyweight has steadily crept up with every sanctioned event he’s appeared in since 2017, and he still has just over a kilogram to give before maxing out in the 105-kilogram class. Given that his lifts have only gotten heavier, and he’s won all but one of the 39 sanctioned meets he’s competed in, the American raw squat record is almost assuredly in his sights.
Featured image: @some_strongash_guy on Instagram
