People handle their 40s differently. Some guys may buy sports cars or a stereo system to feel hip and young. Or, if you’re Rabih Sakka, who is 45 years old, you put 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) on your back and take it for a ride. On Dec. 12, 2020, Sakka posted a video on his Instagram of him squatting this massive weight in knee sleeves and a suit. His squat was smooth and controlled. It looked easy. You can check out the video for yourself below.
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What’s crazy is, this isn’t even Sakka’s heaviest training squat — it’s just his most recent. Nine days earlier, on Dec. 3, 2020, he squatted 510 kilograms (1,124 pounds). This lift was also done in a suit and with knee wraps. That means in less than two weeks’ time, Sakka put up two insane back squats. You can also check out that lift below.
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According to Open Powerlifting, Sakka competed in two powerlifting competitions in 2019 — the Global Powerlifting Association’s European Championships on May 3, 2019, and the International Powerlifting Federation’s World Powerlifting Championships on Oct. 18, 2019. He competed in both the Masters and Open division in the 308-pound weight class and got first place in both. Here are his best competition lifts to date:
- Squat — 459.9 kilograms (1,104 pounds)
- Bench Press — 299.8 kilograms (661 pounds)
- Deadlift — 309 kilograms (683.4)
- Total — 1,049.9 kilograms (2,314.8 pounds)
All of those lifts were completed in a single-ply lifting suit, the same as his recent 500 and 510-kilogram squats. So, in 14 months, Sakka has put 110 pounds onto an already elite-level back squat. The all-time world record squat is currently held by Brian Carroll, who was 39 years old at the time of the squat, with a 592.3 (1,306 pounds) lift (done in a multi-ply squat suit and knee wraps).
It’s unclear when Sakka will compete again, but when he does, you can be sure he’ll be looking to shatter his already impressive competition squat.
Featured image: @rabihsakka on Instagram