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 Achieves New Raw Squat Personal Record - Image credit @russwole Instagram
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Few powerlifting athletes push the boundaries of strength quite like Russel Orhii, as he recently delivered another mind-blowing performance in training. In a clip uploaded to his Instagram, Orhii shared his latest achievement, successfully powering through a monstrous 375-kilogram (826.7-pound) Raw Squat to achieve a new personal record while unofficially smashing the IPF World Record.
Russel Orhii put on a lifting belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps, all of which are in line with the regulations of raw powerlifting. He also noted that he was training while traveling oversees, which usually adds to the fatigue. Therefore, Russel considered his lift a ‘big win’, but others found it to be absolutely mind-blowing.
As for the lift, after loading the 375-kilogram (826.7-pound) barbell, Russel Orhii took a deep breath to brace for the lift and quickly dropped down to the required depth. He then started squatting back up but seemed to hit a sticking point. However, his smile proved that he was capable of pushing through. Just moments later, Russel reached full lockout and officially completed the heaviest squat of his career.
Russel Orhii also unofficially exceeded his own U93KG Raw Squat IPF World Record by 19 kilograms (41.9 pounds). It is unclear what his exact bodyweight at the time of the lift was, but he has competed in the U93KG weight class for nearly two years.
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Russel Orhii has made just one appearance in 2026. and it is currently unknown when he plans to step back out onto the competition floor. He is still continuing to follow his training protocol meticulously and it is clearly working as intended. It remains to be seen if Russel can get the wildcard invite for the 2027 SBD Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, as he would definitely be a great addition to the roster.
Having spent over 10 years competing in powerlifting, Russel Orhii is currently one of the most experienced and successful athletes in the sport. He started off in the USAPL, where he found a lot of success and even managed to win two IPF World Championships. However, once the USAPL and IPF decided to split, Russel stayed with the national federation, proceeding to win some coveted titles. It did not take long for him to leave the USAPL in order to return to the IPF, as he wanted to compete at international competitions and pursue World Records.
Russel Orhii has made a total of 24 sanctioned powerlifting appearances over the course of his entire career. He came out victorious on 20 occasions, during which he also managed to set a number of national and world records. His standout event is the squat, as he officially holds the IPF World Records in both the U93KG and U83KG weight classes.
Data source: OpenPowerlifting. Data through September 5, 2026.
As his career progresses, Orhii continuously proves that he is far from hitting his peak. His relentless work ethic and consistent progress show no signs of slowing down anytime soon as he prepares for future competitions.
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.
