Vlad Alhazov’s comeback is progressing pretty darn nicely. The Russian superheavyweight was put out of commission back in 2008 when his left knee caved inward during an attempt to squat 590 kilograms (1,300 pounds) at Westside Barbell.
Rehab was slow, but he’s steadily making progress toward the threshold of a 500-kilogram squat, and maybe beyond. His latest effort: two reps of a 490kg (1080lb) squat in knee wraps.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BevbhJsHvaX/
At least, it looks like 490 kilograms. He didn’t post the weight, but comments on both Instagram and Reddit have pointed out that the plates appear to add up to 490 kilograms. The last time we wrote about Alhazov, he was squatting 465kg (1023lb) for a double while wearing knee sleeves, so it’s conceivable that he’s since become able to squat 490kg in knee wraps, which can add a lot of weight to a lift.
Here’s the double at 465kg, which he made last December.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc7-2lFHpCt/
As if to confirm how much tension knee wraps can add to a lift, Alhazov posted the following image of his awfully irritated knees and hamstrings following the recent 490kg double.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeveRKVn4Wv/
We believe that Alhazov’s all-time heaviest squat is this monstrous 567kg (1,250lb lift) equipped lift from 2008. That’s more than 60kg (132lb) heavier than Blaine Sumner’s IPF world record of 505kg (which was made in a single-ply suit) and not at all far from Donnie Thompson’s superheavyweight world record of 573.8kg (1,265lb) that he made in the Southern Powerlifting Federation in 2011.
So while Alhazov may not be at full strength just yet, we think 2018 is going to be a big year for him. According to a post on their Facebook page, he’ll be competing in a meet for the World Powerlifting Organization (WPO) later this year alongside Dave Hoff, who currently has the record for the highest Wilks score of all time. We’re unsure of exactly when the meet will be held, but we’re pretty certain a few world records will fall.
Featured image via @vado.a on Instagram.
