Elite super heavyweight powerlifter Jesus Olivares is not taking time away from the gym after winning the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic Championships in Malta — his third consecutive title. On July 4, 2023, Olivares took to his Instagram page to share a video wherein he squatted a PR of 370 kilograms (815 pounds) raw for five reps.
Olivares performed the set while wearing a lifting belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps. Check it out below:
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The barbell had a clear bend with 370 kilograms (815 pounds) loaded onto it, but Olivares handled the weight seemingly with ease. The unrack was controlled, with two steps backward before adjusting his foot position. The first rep was deep and fast, and the following trio of reps looked much the same.
The spotters appeared relaxed through four reps but steadied themselves and moved closer as Olivares braced for the final rep. Though his speed dropped a bit, the bar path never faltered, and Olivares completed the set. He held the lockout for a moment before walking it back into the rack.
Holding momentarily before re-racking the weight is great training for a competitive powerlifter. In competition, the athlete must stand erect at the completion of the lift and wait for the center referee to give the “rack” command. If the athlete returns the bar to the rack before being given the command, they will red lights signifying a failed lift.
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Olivares squatted 455 kilograms (1,003 pounds) at the recent IPF World Classic Championships, but his biggest squat to date is from the 2023 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships in the UK. There he squatted 470 kilograms (1,036 pounds) as part of a historic all-time world record total of 1,152.5 kilograms (2,541 pounds). The IPF world record raw squat in this class still belongs to five-time world champion Ray Williams, who squatted 477.5 kilograms (1,053 pounds) back in 2017. It is widely thought that Olivares will be the athlete who breaks this record, and he certainly looks to be in range.
It’s not clear when and where Olivares will next compete though he has an automatic invitation to the 2023 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships to be held in February 2024. He won the 2023 edition of that contest. Olivares is expected to compete at the next Powerlifting America raw nationals to secure his place on Team USA for the 2024 World Classic Championships, which will be the qualifying event for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China — the first time that raw powerlifting will be included in the multi-sport event.
Featured image: @mega.gojira on Instagram