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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Russel Orhii Raw Squat IPF World Record - Image credit @theipf Instagram
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Russel Orhii’s return to the International Powerlifting Federation has been highly anticipated in the past few months. Well, the wait is over, as the elite powerlifter participated in the 2024 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships, which are taking place on June 15-23, in Druskininkai, Lithuania. Orhii came back with a bang, locking out a 321-kilogram (707.7-pound) Raw Squat U83KG IPF World Record.
The squat has always been Russel Orhii’s go-to event. So, his opener of 305 kilograms (672.4 pounds) was not too surprising, despite the fact that it was beyond what the majority of his rivals could lift at all.
Then, for his second attempt, Russel Orhii added 16 kilograms (35.3 pounds) to the bar, coming out to 321 kilograms (707.7 pounds). This was precisely 0.5 kilograms (1.1 pounds) over the old World Record. However, Orhii performed the lift with ease, and walked away with a smile.
For his third attempt, Russel Orhii tried to squat 328 kilograms (723.1 pounds). He managed to perform the motion, but the judges overturned the lift since it did not fit the criteria. So, Orhii’s second attempt of 321 kilograms (707.7 pounds) stood as his best squat at the competition.
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Russel Orhii had a great performance at the 2024 IPF World Championships, but even that wasn’t enough for him to take the title. He gave it his all across all events, missing just one squat attempt overall. Unfortunately for him, Jurins Kengamu had managed to beat him with his final deadlift of the day. So, Orhii had to settle for second place.
Interestingly, Russel Orhii outperformed the Total World Record, but just for a brief second, since Kengamu achieved an even higher Total just minutes later.
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Squat
305 kilograms (672.4 pounds)
321 kilograms (707.7 pounds) — U83KG IPF World Record
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Russel Orhii has already been a part of the IPF and even managed to win two World Championships in 2019 and 2021. However, he then left the IPF to compete in the USAPL for a few years. His heart still desired International competitions, so he turned back to the IPF this year.
Russel Orhii definitely hoped to reclaim his title at the 2024 IPF World Championships, especially since it would have secured him a ticket for the 2025 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships. That wasn’t the case, so it remains to be seen what his next steps will be.
Russel Orhii now has 21 sanctioned powerlifting appearances to his name, along with 19 victories. Moreover, he further improved his own World Record, proving that he is a valuable addition to the IPF.
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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