Is anyone surprised that John Haack set an all-time raw world record bench press? The United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Hybrid Showdown 4 on Jan. 15-16, 2022, at the Hybrid Performance Method Gym in Miami, FL, gathered some of the most elite powerlifters on the planet to compete against each other on the Dynamic Objective Team Scoring System (DOTS). If there is a top-level powerlifting competition, best believe Haack will be there calling for weight never successfully hit before on a competition platform.
Haack entered the Hybrid Showdown 4 at a bodyweight of 92.7 kilograms and advanced the all-time raw bench press record again. Entering the event, he held the 93-kilogram raw bench press world record of 263 kilograms (579.8 pounds) scored at the 2021 WRPF The Bucked Up Showdown. Leaving the event, he holds the new raw world record bench press of 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds).
Haack ranked as the men’s overall winner of the contest. Blake Lehew, who had a multiple-record-setting performance, and Jamal Browner finished second and third, respectively.
View this post on Instagram
[Related: Powerlifter Samantha Rice (90KG) Scores Raw Deadlift and Total World Records at Hybrid Showdown 4]
Hybrid Showdown 4 — John Haack | Bodyweight: 92.7 kilograms (204.4 pounds)
Haack’s first-place overall finish consisted of six successful lifts out of the full nine attempts:
- Squat
- 310 kilograms (683.4 pounds)
- 332.5 kilograms (733 pounds)
342.5 kilograms (755.1 pounds)
- Bench Press
- 237.5 kilograms (523.6 pounds)
- 255 kilograms (562.2 pounds)
- 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds)
- Deadlift
375 kilograms (826.7 pounds)- 390 kilograms (859.8 pounds)
410 kilograms (903.9 pounds)
- Total — 990 kilograms (2,182.6 pounds)
Despite “dealing with some bad stability issues,” Haack still managed to hit two of his three squat attempts. Per the caption on his Instagram post where she shared his performance stats, he has not missed a raw bench press attempt in competition since 2016. Although Haack missed his 410-kilogram (903.9-pound) deadlift attempt due to losing his grip and pulling his hamstring, he has proven that he’s capable of locking out that weight. He’s on film successfully pulling it on a Twitch live-stream hosted by Gymshark and Brawn in December 2021.
Haack won the overall men’s title at the Hybrid Showdown 4 with a DOTS score of 616.778, defending his title — he won the Hybrid Showdown III in February 2021 with a DOTS score of 625.94. Along with his win and new raw world record, Haack was awarded the $20,000 prize purse.
Featured image: @bilbo_swaggins181 on Instagram
