Zahir Khudayarov has achieved a lot throughout his powerlifting career, but the goals that he declared upon the announcement of his return to the sport still shocked many. Most notably, Zahir vowed to squat half a ton without a squat suit. His dream came true recently, as he crushed a 500-kilogram (1,102.3-pound) Squat With Wraps for an Unofficial U125KG All-Time World Record.
Zahir Khudayarov performed the lift as a part of the 2024 Riminiwellness expo, which took place on May 30th – June 2nd, in Italy. So, his squat served a purely exhibitional purpose, putting his immense power on full display. However, it was still an Unofficial U125KG All-Time World Record.
For his attempt, Zahir Khudayarov only wore a pair of knee wraps and a lifting belt for his 500-kilogram (1,102.3-pound) squat, as those are allowed in the division that he plans to compete in. It was clear just how heavy the lift was, as Zahir struggled to remain stable during his descent with the barbell. However, although this would indicate that the ascent would be slow and difficult as well, Zahir made it look very smooth.
*For reference, the current U125KG Squat W/Wraps All-Time World Record stands at 480 kilograms (1,058.2 pounds), and was set by Zahir Khudayarov at the 2017 FPO WABDL World Cup & SM penkkipunnerrus/maastanosto.
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Zahir Khudayarov is now unofficially the lightest man to squat 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds) with only the use of knee wraps and a lifting belt. In fact, only three men have officially squatted as much or more weight in the same conditions, and none of them weighed under 162 kilograms (357.1 pounds). On the other hand, Zahir is a competitor in the 125-kilogram weight class.
This recent squat was one of three goals that Zahir Khudayarov set for himself, with the other two being a 300-kilogram (661.4-pound) Bench Press, and a 400-kilogram (881.8-pound) Deadlift. He has also showcased a 415-kilogram (914.9-pound) Deadlift in training. So, the only goal that he has not fulfilled yet is the bench press. Ultimately, Zahir plans on combining all three goals and performing them in one Full-Power competition.
Zahir Khudayarov has set multiple World Records and put up impressive performances on many occasions. He achieved that by taking part in 24 sanctioned powerlifting competitions and winning 17 of them. However, with the way that he is progressing, we might see Zahir step back out on the platform quicker than anyone expected.
Zahir Khudayarov’s Competition PRs
Squat (Wraps): 480-kg (1,058.2-lb) — (2017 FPO WABDL World Cup & SM penkkipunnerrus/maastanosto)
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Zahir Khudayarov hopes to become the undisputed G.O.A.T. of the Raw W/Wraps division, and his way of doing so is by outperforming the super heavyweight records at a bodyweight of 125 kilograms (275.6 pounds). He has now proven that his squat is already within that range, meaning that he is close to achieving his dream.
If you have questions or need clarifications, please leave a comment below, and Vedad will respond promptly.
Vedad is a journalist specializing in strength sports, with three years of experience covering powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, strongman, armwrestling and bodybuilding. He is a lifelong fitness enthusiast, passionate about all aspects of strength training. Vedad's in-depth knowledge of training methodologies and dedication to constant research fuel his insightful and engaging reporting. He works hard to deliver accurate content while continuously seeking to improve his craft.