On Sept. 26, 2020, Joe Sullivan squatted 373 kilograms (822.3 pounds) to set the all-time raw world record in the 100-kilogram class at the World Raw Powerlifting Syndicate (WRPF) The Showdown. Sullivan’s lift was a half-kilogram heavier than Amit Sapir‘s squat which was the all-time heaviest for five years prior.
Nearly one year later to the day, on Sept. 25, 2021, Sullivan stepped into the squat rack at the 2021 WRPF The Showdown and reclaimed the all-time world record raw squat by a staggering seven kilograms (15.4 pounds). He stacked a barbell on his traps and successfully squat 380 kilograms (837.8 pounds). He wore a lifting belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps during his world record attempt. Check it out in the video below, courtesy of Sullivan’s Instagram page:
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[Related: Powerlifter Andrew Cooper Bench Presses Australian Raw Record Of 306.5 Kilograms]
Sullivan’s new world record squat was 3.8 times his bodyweight. When he lifted the barbell out of the rack, he held it for approximately six seconds before taking a deep breath to brace for the descent. Although he locked out a weight no one ever has before at 100 kilograms, Sullivan does not appear to suffer any hiccups during the lift.
Overall in the squat, Sullivan went a perfect three for three. He opened with 354.7 kilograms (782 pounds), followed it with 374 kilograms (826 pounds), and finished with the new world record.
100-Kilogram Class Squat Record
Sullivan now holds the two heaviest squats ever scored in the 100-kilogram class. According to Open Powerlifting, these are the current top three lifts by different athletes.
- Joe Sullivan — 380 kilograms (837.8 pounds) | 2021 WRPF The Showdown
- Amit Sapir — 372.5 kilograms (821.2 pounds) |2015 United Powerlifting Association (UPA) Power Weekend
- Kevin Oak — 367.5 kilograms (810.2 pounds) | 2016 Southern Powerlifting Federation (SPF) Reebok Record Breakers
The 2021 WRPF The Showdown was the first sanctioned competition Sullivan competed in since setting the raw squat world record in 2020. It was only his second contest since December 2019. Including his competitive debut at age 14 at the 2008 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) High School Nationals, where he ranked eighth overall, the 28-year-old has competed in 18 sanctioned competitions. Of those 18, he won gold in 12 of them — a 66.7 percent win rate — and failed to land on the podium four times.
Editor’s Note: The attempts listed in the video below are incorrect. This article has been updated to reflect the correct attempts, per Sullivan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_pIKltk2K4&ab_channel=ALpowerliftingTV
Given the new trend he appears to have set of competing once per year to score a new world record, it might be safe to presume that Sullivan’s new squat record will only stand for one year until he breaks it again in 2022.
Featured image: @joesullivan_aod on Instagram