Herndon, yet again, has made a recent mark on history.
On June 26, 2023, powerlifter Phillip Herndon shared an Instagram video of himself capturing a 453.9-kilogram (1,000-pound) back squat raw with wraps from the 2023 International Powerlifting Association (IPA) Strength Spectacular. In accordance with the caption of his post, Herndon weighed in with a body weight of 119.4 kilograms (263.3 kilos) on the time of his competition, making him the lightest athlete to ever squat 453.9 kilograms (1,000 kilos) raw with wraps in a sanctioned competition.
What’s more, in line with the database on Open Powerlifting, Herndon’s squat raw with wraps is the second-heaviest of all time within the 125-kilogram weight class. Only Zahir Khudayarov’s World Record squat of 479 kilograms (1,058.2 kilos) from the 2017 Finland Powerlifting Organisation (FPO) WABDL World Cup stays heavier. Herndon wore a lifting belt, wrist wraps, and knee wraps for this massive squatting achievement and won the competition accordingly within the 125-kilogram division. The 2023 IPA Strength Spectacular took place on June 25, 2023, in York, PA.
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Here’s an outline of Herndon’s top stats from his first-place performance, which also saw him capture a 226.8-kilogram (500-pound) bench press, a 362.9-kilogram (800-pound) deadlift, and a final total of 1,043.2 kilograms (2,300 kilos):
Phillip Herndon (125KG) | 2023 IPA Strength Spectacular Top Raw with Wraps Stats
- Squat: 453.9 kilograms (1,000 kilos) | Second-Heaviest All-Time
- Bench Press: 226.8 kilograms (500 kilos)
- Deadlift: 362.9 kilograms (800 kilos)
- Total: 1,043.2 kilograms (2,300 kilos)
Herndon adds this notable light body weight squatting achievement to an already impressive status of leg power. The athlete is the present raw squat World Record holder within the 110-kilogram class, with a squat of 395 kilograms (870.8 kilos). Herndon also holds the second highest raw squat within the and 125-kilogram class with a lift of 411 kilograms (906.1 kilos). Only Reece Fullwood barely edged him out, breaking Herndon’s record with a 412.5-kilogram (909.4-pound) squat. It’s apparent that Herndon’s dominance and strength transcends across different divisions with different equipment setups.
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Within the caption of his post, Herndon teased his next sanctioned competitive enterprise: the 2023 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro from October 27-29, 2023, in Manassas, VA. Only time will tell what Herndon’s next inevitable jaw-dropping achievement shall be with a loaded barbell in on his back.
Featured image: @phillip_herndon on Instagram