Joe Sullivan ‘Cried a Lot’ After Hitting All Time World Record 822lbs Squat

It was a personal best and a new record in the history of the world for Joe Sullivan who dunked an 822lbs squat at “The Showdown” meet for the World Raw Powerlifting Federation this past Saturday.

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Great angle here. So I really wanted to thank @scottmiller5 for his coaching, consulting, and best friendship over the past two years or so. I couldn't have done this without you man and I'm so fucking happy to be your 1st ATWR client with this 822lb squat at 220lb BW. I know you'll have more and I can't wait to come back in an undetermined amount of time and take some more myself! Thank you brother. Big always. . . . Gym @pinnacleperformanceoh KMS @kabuki_virtualcoaching Lifting Gear @sbdapparel Coach @scottmiller5 Nutrition @optimus_koz Health Supps @leviathannutrition Shoes @bearfootathletics . . #muscle #fitness #gym #bodybuilding #workout #fit #motivation #fitnessmotivation #gymlife #training #fitfam #lifestyle #strong #health #instafit #gymmotivation #fitnessmodel #bodybuilder #personaltrainer #abs #exercise #gains #healthy #fitspo #crossfit #sport #strength #body #shredded #bhfyp

A post shared by Joe Sullivan (@joesullivanpowerlifter) on Sep 27, 2020 at 11:29am PDT

The event took place on September 26th in North Kansas City, Missouri, at the Brave Enough CrossFit Center.

The personal best for Joe Sullivan was a squat of 822.3lbs and was a showdown between the previous record holder in his weight class Amit Sapir. In this meet, Sullivan crushed Sapir’s 821.2lb record by just 1.1lbs.

He posted the day’s summation on Instagram, describing it as a “Hell of a day.” His accomplishments include the 822lbs squat, a bench of 507lbs, and a 677lbs deadlift.

The other outcome? He “cried a lot” as he noted on Instagram. He’s very happy with what he’s been able to do and proud of how he’s “done everything up to it,” as he should be.

He also told his fans that he has now achieved a lifetime goal that included numbers that “no person on the planet has ever done before.” And he did that with one pound above his predecessor.

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We sure had a day yesterday huh. 2020 has been something. Was going to move across the country and uproot my life, last minute didn't and went in on a business venture and became co owner @pinnacleperformanceoh , hustled and managed to put on an amazing event for the Arnold, endured the covid shutdown with great members and great people, built the gym into a community of something more and something we know will need to expand, saw my people hit PRs and make moves in their lives, took on the state of Ohio through a cooperative effort between @tcass1776 myself, and 60 other gyms along with the constitutional law group, endured, adapted, persevered, and now achieved a lifetime goal of an All Time World Record. Something no person on the planet has ever done before. Not by age, not by federation, but by humanity. And I dunked that thing lol. Hell of a day. 822 squat, 507 bench, and a 677 deadlift to deal the deal. A PR total at 2006lb in sleeves and a wilks of 554.2. Cried a lot yesterday. Very happy with what I've been able to do. And proud of how I've done everything up to it. Now we just see where the future holds. Always in it. . . . Gym @pinnacleperformanceoh KMS @kabuki_virtualcoaching Lifting Gear @sbdapparel Coach @scottmiller5 Nutrition @optimus_koz Health Supps @leviathannutrition Shoes @bearfootathletics . . #muscle #fitness #gym #bodybuilding #workout #fit #motivation #fitnessmotivation #gymlife #training #fitfam #lifestyle #strong #health #instafit #gymmotivation #fitnessmodel #bodybuilder #personaltrainer #abs #exercise #gains #healthy #fitspo #crossfit #sport #strength #body #shredded #bhfyp

A post shared by Joe Sullivan (@joesullivanpowerlifter) on Sep 27, 2020 at 8:18am PDT

He said on Instagram that one of his accomplishments of the year include avoiding a move across the country.  Instead, he went on to create a business of a new gym, and describes a Covid-19 experience as one with a lot of new members and some great people. 

Prior to this weekend’s competition, his previous squat record in the competition was 771.6lbs in December 2019 at the Great Lakes Raw by Iron Rebel competition.

But overall, he is a force to be reckoned with worldwide, a force that has only been amplified with this past week’s competition.

He’s a graduate from John Carroll University with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science. Following his graduation, he became one of the top-ranked 198lb lifters with a 1725lb total in sleeves. He is also currently ranked #6 All-Time in the 20 Class, #15 All-Time in the 242 Class, and #3 All-Time in the squat 220 class.

What is next for Joe Sullivan? He says we’ll see what the future holds, “Always in it.”