Things are heating up for Jessica Buettner. On Apr. 30, 2022, the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) multi-World-Record holding powerlifter posted a new best back squat to social media. Buettner hit 220 kilograms (485 pounds) raw, an all-time personal record, shortly after also squatting 217.5 kilograms (480 pounds).
According to the IPF registry, Buettner’s two squats exceed the current IPF world record in the Women’s 76-kilogram Classic Open category of 210.5 kilograms (464 pounds), which Buettner herself owns. She hit said record at the 2021 IPF World Championships in Halmstad, Sweden. Per Open Powerlifting, the all-time world record is 275 kilograms (606.3 pounds) hit by Kristy Hawkins at the 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) The Bucked Up Showdown. However, Hawkins competed in the 75-kilogram class at that contest, so Buettner’s IPF record at 76-kilograms stands.
You can check out both of Buettner’s lifts below, courtesy of her Instagram page:
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In attendance at Buettner’s training session was four-time Mr. Olympia winner Jay Cutler, who spectated her squats and remarked in the video that her first 217.5-kilo lift looked “easy,” encouragement which may have inspired Buettner to go after the big 220.
In her caption, Buettner notes that her training for the day called for two singles in the squat that were “NOT RPE 10.” Buettner is coached by renowned researcher and competitor Eric Helms. According to the caption, this deterred Buettner from loading up 227 kilos or 500 pounds, a number she has been chasing for several years.
How She Did It
On her Instagram story, Buettner mentioned that she usually trains alone, which sometimes makes it intimidating for her to attempt heavy squats to competition depth. She was clearly in the right frame of mind and had more than enough strength in the tank to make not one but two massive squats on the day.
As a “raw” IPF athlete, Buettner performs her squats without wearing assistive equipment like knee wraps or a squat suit. She hit both the 217.5 and 220-kilogram squats while utilizing only a pair of lifting shoes, knee sleeves, and a lever lifting belt.
Buettner did wear a pair of wrist wraps for her sets, but this likely was more to protect her wrists from undue strain while securing her barbell in a low bar position, a technique used by powerlifters to lift the most weight possible in the squat.
Onto Worlds
In her Instagram caption, Buettner commented that she’s only two weeks out from competing at the Canadian Powerlifting Union’s National Championships, which take place between May 9th and 14th.
Following that, Buettner is looking toward the 2022 IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships, which will be held roughly a month later on June 6 in Sun City, South Africa. Buettner might knock down that 500-pound milestone if these training lifts are any indication.
Featured Image: @djessicabuettner on Instagram