Powerlifters often find themselves in a difficult situation after moving up a weight class level because they are faced with significantly stronger opponents. Philip Herndon, however, is not among them, having entered the 125-kilogram weight class and continuing to dominate everyone, despite competing in the 110-kilogram weight class for the past few years. Most recently, Herndon took part in the 2023 USPC Mid-Atlantic Classic & Regional Championship, which took place on March 18, in Baltimore, MD. In the best performance of the meet, Herndon squatted 411 kilograms (906.1 pounds) to set a new All-Time Raw World Record in his weight class.
Having only utilized a lifting belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps, Phillip Herndon became the lightest man to raw squat 900 pounds or more in a sanctioned powerlifting competition. This makes him arguably the greatest pound-for-pound squatter in the world.
The previous All-Time Raw Squat World Record in the 125-kilogram weight class was held by Dennis Cornelius, who locked out 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds) at the 2017 USPA Freedom Fitness Classic. So, the significance of this record is displayed by the fact that it remained untouched for the past six years. Regardless, Phillip Herndon has claimed it and plans on further improving it.
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Phillip Herndon put on an outstanding performance, executing each lift with ease and precision, and shared a video highlighting the heaviest lifts from his impressive display on Instagram. In addition, Herndon did not fail any of the nine attempts and walked away with new PRs in every event. So, Phillip had as perfect of a day as he could have wished for. In addition, Phillip weighed in at exactly 117 kilograms (258 pounds), making him one of the lighter athletes in his weight class.
After setting the squat World Record, Phillip Herndon moved on to the bench press and locked out 230 kilograms (507 pounds). However, he still wasn’t finished, as a new deadlift PR became a reality as well. Loading up 383 kilograms (844 pounds) on the bar, Herndon managed to pull the weight with ease and already started to celebrate his achievement before lowering the bar back down. Phillip Herndon’s total came out to 1,024 kilograms (2,257 pounds), which was yet another PR for him.
Phillip Herndon’s Performance Summary
Squat: 411 kilograms (906.1 pounds) — U125KG All-Time Raw World Record & Competition PR
This was Phillip Herndon’s 41st sanctioned powerlifting appearance, as the experienced athlete has been competing since 2013. He has won the majority of the competitions in which he took part in, proving his excellence in the sport.
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
After a decade of competing professionally, Phillip Herndon proved that he can still make significant improvements and place himself amongst the best-ranked powerlifters. With new competition PRs in all events, Herndon is now stronger than ever and motivated to continue breaking records.
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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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