Powerlifter John Haack created history at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation Showdown 2021 in Kansas City on September 25, 2021. Haack created a new raw all-time world record by successfully lifting 1005.5kg (2216.7lbs) in the 90kg weight class.
Saturday was a special night for Haack as he also broke the raw record in two weight classes above his own. Yuri Belkin (972.5kg) and Jamal Browner (1000kg) held the previous world records in the 100kg and 110kg weight classes, respectively. While he beat Browner’s record by a narrow margin, Haack took a substantial 28kg lead on Belkin.
Courtesy of YouTube channel ALpowerliftingTV, you can watch all three of John Haack’s WRPF Showdown lifts here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaDh6tcQeCQ
As per the Showdown regulations, John Haack performed all three lifts raw. While he used wrist wraps and a weight belt for bench presses, Haack did not rely on other equipment like deadlift suits or knee wraps.
John Haack Showdown lifts breakdown
- Squat – 340 kilograms (749.5 pounds)
- Bench press – 263 kilograms (579.8 pounds)
- Deadlift – 402.5 kilograms (887.3 pounds)
- Total – 1,005.5 kilograms (2,216.7 pounds) – ATWR
Bilbo Swaggins’s Career Trajectory
After making his professional debut in the 2013 USAPL Badger Open, John Haack primarily competed in the 82.5kg (181lbs) and 83kg (183lbs) weight class. Haack was the 2016 International Powerlifting Federation champion before switching to United States Powerlifting Association.
Out of the 18 meets he competed in before moving up to 90kg, Haack finished first in 16. At age 26, Haack set the current world record (907.5kg) in the raw 82.5kg weight class at the Tribune Powerlifting Meet in San Antonio, Texas in 2019. Haack beat his own personal records of 890kg (at USPA 2019) and 875kg (at USPA 2018) by a substantial margin.
However, the 28-year-old has elevated his game multiple levels above since making a move up to 90kg weight class in early 2020. Haack created the raw 90-kg weight class world record by lifting 932.5kg in his divisional debut. He broke previous record holder Jesse Norris’s record (922.5kg) that was set in November 2015.
John Haack Strained His Quads During Squats
John Haack expressed his joy in an Instagram post a day later and revealed that he strained both his quads during the third squat.
“Did the damn thing. Broke one of my lifetime goals of 1000kgs at 90kgs yesterday. Didn’t help I strained both quads on my third squat, but with @that_hugeasian_guy we made the right number calls to secure the goal.” Caption to John Haack’s Instagram post read.
Out of the four meets John Haack has competed in the 90kg weight class, he has finished first in three. Courtesy of two missed deadlift attempts at 400kg, Haack was forced to be content with the second spot in the 2021 WRPF Kern US Open. Chad Penson finished first in the meet and also set the raw world record in the 90kg weight class (997.5kg). Chad Penson also became the first powerlifter in the weight class to squat 400kg.
With the Herculean 1000.5kg lift on Saturday, John Haack not only got the redemption but also beat Penson’s world record. The lift, which was nearly 11 times Haack’s bodyweight, certainly makes a strong case for John Haack to be considered among the greatest powerlifters of all time. What’s more? Haack is only 28 years old and has a lot of time on his side to break his own record.
Editor’s note: Initially, this article read that John Haack totaled 1000.5kg and squatted 335kg, however, Haack himself provided an update to include the weight of the squat bar which is heavier than a standard barbell. We’ve updated the details accordingly.
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