Russel Orhii rose to fame in powerlifting for his incredible feats of strength and multiple exceptional performances on the competition floor. So, he is continuing down the same route, pushing himself to the absolute limits in pursuit of improvement. As a result, Russel recently set a 215-kilogram (474-pound) raw bench press PR in training.
Russel Orhii’s most prominent lift is easily the squat, while his deadlift also often reaches mind-blowing numbers. So, Russel wanted to make sure to grow his bench press to the same level. After spending dozens of training sessions progressively overloading this specific lift, he now finally reaped the fruits of his labor.
As seen in his recent Instagram post, Russel Orhii’s power output on the bench press has reached unimaginable heights. So, carrying the momentum of previous successful training sessions, Russel decided to push for a new bench press PR of 215 kilograms (474 pounds). He put on his lifting belt and wrist wraps before proceeding to take his position on the bench.
Russel then controlled the barbell down to his chest, after which he started pressing it back up. However, his right arm lagged behind, compromising his overall stability. Luckily, Russel managed to power through to lockout, securing a brand new All-Time Personal Record.
Watch the lift here:
Russel Orhii has mentioned the possibility of an appearance at the 2025 IPF World Games, which are scheduled to take place on August 7-17 in Chengdu, China. The World Games have proved to be an incredible stage for equipped lifters in the previous years, which is why this year the organizers have decided to implement the Raw division as well. So, Russel will be battling to add another coveted title to his resume.
Russel Orhii has been competing in powerlifting for nearly a decade so far and has established himself as one of the most prominent figures in the sport during that time. He has won two IPF World Championships titles, alongside multiple other elite competitions, making him one of the most successful lifters in the drug-tested side of the sport. In total, Russel has taken part in 22 sanctioned powerlifting competitions and walked away with a win in 19 of those.
Russel Orhii’s Competition PRs
- Squat: 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds) — [2022 USAPL Korea Winter Showdown]
- Bench Press: 202.5 kilograms (446.4 pounds) — [2025 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships]
- Deadlift: 350 kilograms (771.6 pounds) — [2022 USAPL Korea Winter Showdown]
- Total: 885 kilograms (1,951.1 pounds) — [2022 USAPL Korea Winter Showdown]
Russel Orhii has spent a large majority of his career in the 83-kilogram weight class, which is arguably the most stacked at the current moment. So, having to go up against the likes of Joe Borenstein, Russel is forced to make massive improvements. As seen by his new bench press PR, it is clear that he is determined to reclaim his throne. So, it will be exciting to see how well he performs at the 2025 World Games.
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