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List of All-Time Powerlifting World Records In Raw & Equipped Divisions

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Throughout history, there has always been a fascination and sense of satisfaction in witnessing people demonstrate their incredible strength. However, it was during the 1950s that the sport of powerlifting truly took off and captured the attention of enthusiasts worldwide. Since then, powerlifting has become increasingly popular and is currently enjoying its highest level of recognition and interest. So, we decided to make a list of every All-Time World Record in raw and equipped divisions. 

Powerlifting consists of dozens of federations who host their own competitions and have their own records. On the other hand, the phrase “All-Time World Record” has a specific meaning when it comes to powerlifting records. It stands for the most weight that has ever been lifted successfully in a competition that was sanctioned by any international federation. This indicates that the record is acknowledged on a global scale and is not restricted to a particular organization or area. 

There are four events in which an athlete can set an All-Time World Record, and those are the Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift, and Total. In addition, there are raw and equipped divisions, as well as multiple weight classes. 

“Raw” powerlifting competitions typically allow athletes to wear lifting belts, singlets, wrist wraps, knee sleeves, and chalk. On the other hand, equipped powerlifting allows the use of pieces of equipment which have a much more significant impact on the weight of the lifts. Examples of “equipped” powerlifting are bench press shirts, squat suits, knee wraps, and more.

Raw Squat — Men

Ray Williams is the man who set the mark to beat on the raw squats, as he holds the All-Time World Record of 490 kilograms (1,080 pounds). He set this record at the 2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American. While Ray set the record for his +140-kilogram weight class, it is also the heaviest raw squat across all 12 weight classes.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Raw Squat — Weight Class ATWR

Raw Squat — Women 

Although April Mathis has held the World Record for over a decade, Bonica Brown managed to break it very recently. She did so by raw squatting 280 kilograms (617 pounds) at the 2023 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Raw Squat — Weight Class ATWR

Raw Bench Press — Men

Julius Maddox is unprecedented in the bench press event, as no one has even gotten close to him. There have been some unofficial lifts by athletes such as Danal Zamani, but when it comes to performing in a competition, Maddox is the greatest. So, he holds the raw bench press World Record of 355 kilograms (782 pounds), which he set at the 2021 WRPF Hybrid Showdown III.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Raw Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR

Raw Bench Press — Women

Although she lost her squat World Record, April Mathis is still in possession of her 207.5-kilogram (457-pound) bench press world record. She set this at the 2016 SPF Gritmas Classic, meaning it has remained unchanged for the past seven years.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Raw Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR

Raw Deadlift — Men

Arguably the most impressive lift in powerlifting belongs to Danny Grigsby. He managed to deadlift 487.5 kilograms (1,074 pounds) at the 2022 WRPF American Pro, making him the closest man to break the half a ton barrier. 

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Raw Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR

Raw Deadlift — Women

Tamara Walcott is the queen of raw deadlifts, as she has the heaviest pull in the history of women’s powerlifting. Her greatest deadlift came at the 2022 WRPF American Pro and weighed 290 kilograms (639 pounds). In addition, Tamara has ventured into the Strongman world and set deadlift records there as well. 

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Raw Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR

Raw Total — Men

Jesus Olivares is the newest record holder in the Raw Total event. He set the record just a few months ago at the 2023 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships by totaling 1,152.5 kilograms (2,540 pounds). In addition, he set the record at a drug-tested meet, which adds to its value. 

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Raw Total — Weight Class ATWR

Raw Total — Women

Tamara Walcott appears once more on the list of All-Time World Records for the Raw Total event. She accumulated 735 kilograms (1,620 pounds) across three events at the 2022 WRPF American Pro, which is more than anyone has done before her.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Raw Total — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Squat — Men

The equipped squat of Nathan Baptist was truly a unique sight to see, as his 595-kilogram (1,311-pound) squat is the heaviest in this division. He landed it at the 2021 UPA Utah Kick Off Meet no one came close to it for three years now. 

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Equipped Squat — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Squat — Women 

Leah Reichman stands alone at the top of the women’s division for the equipped squat, as she has lifted almost 50 kilograms (110 pounds) more than anyone else. Thus, she holds the World Record of 432.5 kilograms (953 pounds), having set it at the 2023 APF Womens Pro/Am.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Equipped Squat — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Bench Press — Men

The award for the most dominant World Record goes to Jimmy Kolb, who has managed to surpass his closest rival by almost 100 kilograms (220 pounds). Jimmy has done this in the equipped bench press event with his 612.5-kilogram (1,350-pound) World Record. He set this record at the 2023 IPA Hillbilly Havoc.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Equipped Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Bench Press — Women

The contention for the women’s equipped bench press World record has always been stacked, but Rea-Ann Miller has recently made a giant leap forward. She bench pressed 294.8 kilograms (650 pounds) at the 2023 MM Bench for Wolfe II and claimed the World Record. 

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Equipped Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Deadlift — Men

The equipped deadlift World Record is held by Andy Bolton who locked out 457.5 kilograms (1,008 pounds) at the 2009 BPC South East Qualifier and Novice Bash. Interestingly, this is the only event in powerlifting where the equipped record is lighter than the raw record.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Equipped Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Deadlift — Women

Only two women have ever crossed the 300-kilogram (661-pound) milestone in the equipped deadlift event, and Becca Swanson is the more prominent of the two. She holds the World Record of 315 kilograms (694 pounds), which she set at the 2005 WPC WPO European Semi Finals.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Equipped Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Total — Men

Overall, Dave Hoff wrote his name in the history books as the equipped Total World Record holder. His record stands at 1,407.5 kilograms (3,103 pounds) from the 2019 WPC WPO Super Finals.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Men’s Equipped Total — Weight Class ATWR

Equipped Total — Women

Speaking of the women’s equipped Total World Record, Leah Reichman has just recently broken a record which has been in Becca Swanson’s possession for 18 years. She did so by totaling 932.5 kilograms (2,055 pounds) at the 2023 APF Womens Pro/Am.

Top Five Across All Weight Classes

Women’s Equipped Total — Weight Class ATWR

Most of the records listed above were set within the last few years, while only a few historic records remain unbroken. This proves that we are currently living through a golden age of powerlifting and are lucky to witness the likes of Jesus Olivares, Danny Grigsby, Tamara Walcott, Kristy Hawkins, and many other amazing athletes.

Published: 17 May, 2023 | 3:16 PM EDT

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