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...
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Joe Sullivan - Image credit @Joesullivan_aod Instagram
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Joe Sullivan has spent the last ten years proving himself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of powerlifting. His incredible strength and skill have consistently set him apart from his peers, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to the sport. However, it did not come easy for him, as he suffered a sciatic nerve injury seven years ago. Even Joe himself found it hard to believe that he could recover properly and reach his peak once more. Despite the challenges, Joe persevered and trained intelligently to regain his peak physical form. He showcased his progress at the 2023 WRPF METROFLEX BATTLE FOR THE YARD 8, held on March 25th in California. Joe was quick to impress everyone in the first event of the competition, as he set a new 386-kilogram (850.9-pound) All-Time Raw Squat World Record.
Joe Sullivan competed in the 100-kilogram weight class and broke the record in the same division. In addition, he was also the record-holder beforehand, having landed a 385-kilogram (848.8-pound) squat at the 2022 USPA Pro Raw Championships. However, Joe has now further improved it, but also made some important progress in other events as well.
Moving on to the bench press, Joe Sullivan managed to lock out 225 kilograms (496 pounds), which is the heaviest he has lifted since 2018. So, despite not being a competition PR, it proves that Joe is improving and getting closer to it.
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*Joe Sullivan’s bench press competition PR is 245-kg (540.1-lb), which he set at the 2018 IPL Midwest Open.
The third event of the day was the deadlift and Joe Sullivan managed to complete a colossal pull of 327.5 kilograms (540.1 pounds). Similar to the bench press, this is not his Competition PR, but is his heaviest deadlift since 2017.
*Joe Sullivan’s deadlift competition PR is 340-kg (749.6-lb), which he set at the 2017 USPA CETC US Open Powerlifting Championships.
Finally, Joe Sullivan’s accumulated Total after the lifts came out to 938 kilograms (2,067.9 pounds), which makes for his greatest overall appearance ever. So, having set a new competition PR in the Total event, Joe Sullivan was overfilled with emotion, even letting a few tears roll down his face.
“To come back after 7 years of frustration, defeat, and failure due to my nerve injury and surpass what I thought was my limit, while still setting squat records and having a goddamn blast is something I cannot and never will be able to express adequately.
I cried a lot today and goddamn was it deserved. There’s no end until you decide there is one, and we’re just getting going up this mountainside. Onward.”
Data source: OpenPowerlifting. Data through July 25, 2026.
This was Joe Sullivan’s 25th sanctioned powerlifting appearance and his milestone was definitely one to remember. He walked away with a new World Record and a heart filled with happiness. In addition, Joe now has more motivation than ever to keep training and pushing himself. So, some more World Records are bound to fall in his upcoming adventures.
If you have any questions or need further clarification about this news, please leave a comment below, and Vedad will get back to you as soon as possible.
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.
