JamaRR Royster recently switched to Powerlifting America (PA). Royster previously lifted with USA Powerlifting (USAPL) but joined the wave of top-level lifters who moved to America’s affiliate of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF).
Royster’s PA debut was the 2024 SBD Raleigh meet, a contest with an unusual format. For the Prime Time session, athletes were not ranked based on weight lifted within their weight class. Instead, athletes from different weight classes competed against each other and were scored on the proportion of the American total record they achieved.
Royster competed in the 93KG class. He kicked off his competition by matching the IPF squat world record on his opening attempt. His second attempt of 345 kilograms moved quickly and he called for 357.5 kilograms to be added to the barbell for his final squat — 20 kilograms more than the current IPF world record. Take a look at the colossal lift below:
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Royster employed wrist wraps, knee sleeves, and a lifting belt to assist him in the squat. In IPF affiliates, knee wraps are not permitted in the raw category. Royster’s ascent was slow, but his form did not break. He was patient, kept his positioning, and was rewarded with three white lights from the referees.
The IPF squat world record in the 93KG class has seen some action this year, having been broken four times. At the end of 2023, Anatolli Novopysmennyi’s world record squat of 331 kilograms had stood for four years, undefeated. Here is the progression since then:
- Gavin Adin — 331.5 kilograms
- Carlos Petterson-Grifith — 332.5 kilograms
- Gavin Adin — 337 kilograms
- Carlos Petterson-Grifith — 337.5 kilograms
In the IPF, world records can only be set at international events so Royster’s squat will not stand as an official record. However, squatting 20 kilograms over the record fires a warning shot at the 93KG class.
2024 SBD Raleigh Results — JamaRR Royster, 93KG
- Squat
- 337.5 kilograms
- 345 kilograms
- 357.5 kilograms
- Bench Press
- 190 kilograms
- 197.5 kilograms
200 kilograms
- Deadlift
- 290 kilograms
- 305 kilograms
- 310 kilograms
- Total — 865 kilograms
To score his 357.5-kilogram lift as an official record, Royster must replicate it at an IPF international meet. He isn’t on the roster for the upcoming 2024 North American Powerlifting Championships so his next opportunity will be at the 2025 IPF Classic World Championships in Chemnitz, Germany.
Royster’s path to that competition will not be easy. PA has a number of world class athletes in the 93KG class. Brandon Pitre, Jonathan Cayco and Gavin Adin will all challenge to become the nominee in this weight class. Royster must defeat them at the 2025 PA Raw Nationals to be selected.
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Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
