Elite super heavyweight powerlifter Jesus Olivares has had a good 2023. He only competed twice but made those performances count, winning the inaugural Sheffield Powerlifting Championships in March 2023 for £30,000 (approximately $38,000) in prize money and breaking the raw deadlift and total world records five times.
In June 2023, Olivares gave a dominant performance at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Classic World Championships (CWC) in Malta, picking up his third consecutive world title.
Olivares training in the gym also includes several personal records, including a squat set of five repetitions at 370 kilograms (815 pounds).
Olivares’ deadlift has been moving well, too. He nearly hit a 415-kilogram (915-pound) deadlift on Thanksgiving, but his grip failed at the top. However, on Dec. 15, 2023, Olivares shared a training update on his Instagram page wherein he deadlifted an easy-looking 420 kilograms (926 pounds) raw. Check it out below:
Olivares used only a lifting belt to assist him in his deadlift. He bent to the barbell, set his mixed grip, and began the pull. The lift was smooth. He held the lockout for a moment, putting to rest any worries about his grip. As he did not appear to struggle at all, it raised the question of how much he had left in reserve.
The raw 410-kilogram (904-pound) deadlift world record Olivares set at Sheffield 2023 is the heaviest deadlift ever achieved at an IPF international contest. He broke the total world record at that event at a whopping 1,152.5 kilograms (2541 pounds).
Previously, multiple-time world champion Ray Williams held the IPF world record total at 1,105 kilograms (2,436 pounds), having set it at the 2017 Arnold Classic. Breaking such a longstanding record by such a margin demonstrates the trajectory Olivares is on.
Olivares will next compete at Sheffield 2024. Judging by his current training, he stands to win a lot of money — the main prize is given to the highest proportion of the IPF world record total (first prize is £25,000 (approximately $31,700)). However, there are also £5,000 (approximately $6,300) bounties for any IPF world records broken.
At his previous appearance, Olivares squatted 470 kilograms (1,036 pounds). The raw world record squat still belongs to Williams at 477.5 kilograms (1,053 pounds). If Olivares chips this record and breaks the deadlift and total records on his way to victory, he would secure a huge payout of £40,000 (approximately $50,750). While this outcome seems possible, Olivares will face off against 11 other elite powerlifters, all vying for the same prize.
Sheffield 2024 will be held on Feb. 10, 2024, in Sheffield, UK. It will be live-streamed for free on the SBD Apparel YouTube Channel.
Featured image: @mega.gojira on Instagram
