Jesus Olivares Squat World Record - Image credit @SBD Apparel YouTube
Jesus Olivares came into the 2024 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships as the defending champion from last year. So, the training footage that he posted in the leadup to this performance also gave a lot of hope. Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan, but Jesus still walked away with a new +120KG IPF Raw Squat World Record of 478 kilograms (1,053.8 pounds).
Jesus Olivares has been recognized for his squat prowess for a few years now, but breaking the World Record was still an extremely difficult task for him. Despite this, it was still hard to believe that Jesus would end up breaking a longstanding squat record, which was held by the legendary Ray Williams.
Jesus Olivares first demolished 420 kilograms (925.9 pounds) and 455 kilograms (1,003.1 pounds) on his two opening attempts. Then, he decided to make a massive jump to 478 kilograms (1,053.8 pounds) on his final attempt. As expected, Jesus experienced some stabilizing issues under such a tremendous weight. However, moving the barbell was not a problem for him. So, he ended up locking out the lift and setting a new IPF World Record.
*Ray Williams held the old +120KG IPF Squat World Record, having lifted 477.5-kg (1,052.7-lb) at the 2017 NAPF Arnold Slingshot Pro American.
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Jesus Olivares came into the competition as the main favorite to win the title again. Moreover, once he set the squat World Record, that stance was solidified for the majority of the fans. However, Jesus lacked a bit of luck after the squats, which ended up costing him the gold medal. It seemed that the turning point came during the bench press attempt, where he failed his second and third attempts.
To make things even worse for him, Jesus Olivares crushed his third bench press attempt at 275 kilograms (606.3 pounds). However, a tiny mistake cost him everything, since he racked the barbell before the judge told him to do so. In turn, despite bench pressing the weight and doing everything correctly up until that point, Jesus’ lift was declared invalid.
This mistake clearly shook him up mentally, as his performance on the deadlift also saw him unsuccessfully perform two attempts. Consequently, Jesus Olivares lost his title in 2024.
Squat
420 kilograms (925.9 pounds)
455 kilograms (1.003.1 pounds)
478 kilograms (1,053.8 pounds) — +120KG IPF World Record
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Although Jesus Olivares has probably failed to fulfill his expectations, his Squat World Record is clear proof that he has made improvements. The fact that he did not defend his title can be attributed to a bad day or lack of luck. So, there is no doubt that Jesus will continue training hard and breaking records in the future. Later this year, Jesus will attempt to win his fourth consecutive IPF World Championship title.
Jesus Olivares’ career stats now consist of 22 sanctioned powerlifting appearances and 12 victories. He has added yet another World Record to his name, meaning that he now holds three (Squat, Deadlift, & Total). The only one that is not in his possession is the bench press, but it would not be a surprise if Jesus got his hands on it in the future as well.
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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