Devin Williams Unofficial Bench Press World Record - Image credit @big_dev98 Instagram
Devin Williams is recognized as one of the greatest drug-tested bench pressers in the world. So, it was definitely exciting to see him appear at the 2024 SBD Raleigh, along with multiple other elite powerlifters. He competed in the 120-kilogram weight class and produced a spectacle. Most notably, Devin managed to bench press 255 kilograms (562.2 pounds), which was an Unofficial IPF World Record.
Devin Williams 2024 SBD Raleigh Performance Overview
Devin Williams weighed in just slightly below the limit of his weight class, with his bodyweight coming out to 119.6 kilograms (263.7 pounds). He managed to successfully complete eight out of his nine attempts, missing just one on the bench press. In turn, he managed to secure a podium finish, along with $1,000 in prize money.
Squat
Devin Williams looked extremely solid on the squats, ultimately managing to set a new Competition PR of 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds) on his final attempt. This beat his previous PR by 5 kilograms (11 pounds). In his own words, this is proof of his steady progress on this event, which is always nice to see.
305 kilograms (672.4 pounds)
330 kilograms (727.6 pounds)
340 kilograms (749.6 pounds) — Competition PR
Bench Press
The action continued on the bench press, where Devin Williams was ready to perform an unbelievable lift. He first pressed 240 kilograms (529.1 pounds) with ease, which gave him confidence to load an Unofficial World Record weight onto the bar.
So, for his second attempt, Devin Williams took on 255 kilograms (562.2 pounds). He only used a pair of wrist wraps, as per the regulations of the raw division. Surprisingly, the weight posed no challenge for him, making it clear that he was capable of more. However, this ended up being his heaviest lift on this event and an Unofficial IPF World Record.
For his final attempt, Devin Williams loaded 262.5 kilograms (578.7 pounds). Everything seemed to be going well since he managed to press the bar from his chest. However, in the end, the judges invalidated the lift because they saw a dipping motion.
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240 kilograms (529.1 pounds)
255 kilograms (562.2 pounds) — U120KG Unofficial IPF World Record
Unsuccessful — 262.5 kilograms (578.7 pounds)
*The official U120KG IPF Raw Bench Press World Record stands at 253-kg (557.8-lb) and was set by Dennis Cornelius at the 2016 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Deadlift
Moving onto the deadlifts, Devin Williams realized that he could secure a bronze medal without pushing himself to the limits. So, he took the safer road and finished with a 365-kilogram (804.7-pound) pull. However, he did seem capable of lifting much more.
340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
362.5 kilograms (699.2 pounds)
365 kilograms (804.7 pounds)
Total — 960 kilograms (2,116.4 pounds) — Competition PR
“Total didn’t reflect what I’ve built in training, but at this point in my powerlifting career it isn’t really about the total, but about the outcome. I can clean things up and keep chasing 1000,” wrote Devin Williams on Instagram.
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Devin Williams now has 15 sanctioned powerlifting appearances to his name, 11 of which ended up with a win for him. He has been competing in the USAPL for a long time, but has recently made a transition to the IPF/AMP. He has yet to take part in an international competition organized by the IPF. However, his recent progress shows that he definitely has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
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.
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