The ten greatest squats of all time
The squat is the toughest strength exercise of all, both mentally and physically. If you take your training seriously, you know what it feels like to head to the gym with a heavy squat workout ahead of you and your motivation perhaps running a little low. But enough of that — tough as squats are, people have still put up some huge numbers. Here are the ten greatest squats of all time.
1. Lee Moran — 455 kg
Lee Moran was the first man to squat 455 kg, or 1000 pounds. On his first attempt, he dumped the bar over his head and took quite a beating. On his second attempt, one of the collars gave way, the plates flew off that side and the bar went flying off his back. He finally made the lift on his third attempt: 456 kg, or 1003 pounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdKueMadHZw
Why is it impressive? Because he had already failed two attempts and still had the strength to break the 455 kg barrier on his third!
The first two failed attempts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2vbjxB0bBk&feature=related (another link to the same video).
2. Kirk Karwoski — 455 kg, 2 reps
Kirk Karwoski could squat 343 kg for 7 reps “raw” (without supportive equipment). Even ten years after retiring from competition, he could still squat 384 kg raw for 1 rep. He built the physique you see in his videos through powerlifting (he was not a bodybuilder). His greatest achievement — 455 kg for 2 reps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo1tU1YqPp0
Why is it impressive? Even after 2 brutally heavy squats (455 kg — 2x), he shouts that he wants to keep the weight on his back!
3. Fred Hatfield — 455 kg at age 45
Squatting 455 kg at age 45 — that is what Fred Hatfield, alias Dr. Squat, achieved. He won the World Powerlifting Championships three times. At 45, he squatted 461 kg in competition at a body weight of 116 kg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fivhv5znPg0
Why is it impressive? He did it at 45!
4. Bud Jeffries — 455 kg straight off the pins
455 kg straight up off the pins, with no lowering phase. The difference is that when you perform a proper full squat, the elastic energy stored during the stretch contributes to the concentric contraction. Squatting straight up off the pins does not produce this effect. That is how Bud Jeffries did it — 455 kg straight up off the safety pins of a power rack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJMdK7vJsLc
Why is it impressive? A squat with no lowering phase, straight up off the pins!
5. Ivan Chakarov — 265 kg raw
“Just a casual squat.” In 1993, 3 days before winning the World Weightlifting Championships, Ivan Chakarov happened to be spotted performing 2 excellent deep squats with 265 kg at a body weight of 91 kg, without any supportive equipment whatsoever. No belt, no spotters, no wraps — incredible!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjfEnUT2A-g
Why is it impressive? No belt, no spotters, no wraps — incredible!
6. Jesse Marunde — 185 kg, 20 reps
20 squats with 185 kg. Take a weight you can squat for 10 reps and try to get 20. Breathe deeply in and out and rest between reps, but complete all 20 squats. Breathing squats will put your mental endurance to the test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqz54LCBrM
Why is it impressive? He did it after pull-ups and cleans, too!
7. Louie Simmons — 418 kg at age 50
Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell is the only man to have squatted 418 kg in his fifties. He proved that age does not matter — if you want to squat, you can do it well into old age.
Why is it impressive? 418 kg at fifty!
8. Eduardo Guadamud — 310 kg, 2 deep squats
310 kg for 2 squats. I originally gave this spot to Idalberto Arranda for his 2 squats with 290 kg — 2 deep squats — but then I remembered Eduardo Guadamud, who performs 2 deep squats with 310 kg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUHpuMcje84
Why is it impressive? Mellow Beyoncé music is playing in the background, and it does not affect him at all!
Translator’s note: The point is presumably how anyone can squat that much weight to such mellow music. But the weight is certainly heavy, too, he is wearing no special supportive equipment, his technique is excellent and he is very young — 21, if I remember correctly!
9. Wade Hooper — 370 kg at a body weight of 82.5 kg
A 370 kg squat at a body weight of 82.5 kg. Wade Hooper achieved this in 2008, taking first place, of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIFuRc9RQxY
Why is it impressive? He squats 4.5 times his body weight!
10. Becca Swanson — a woman who squatted 383 kg
A woman squatted 383 kg. Becca Swanson has often been called the strongest woman in the world. She holds the women’s records in both the squat and the deadlift. This is not her record lift, but it gives you a glimpse of this strong woman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp-g-2dm8n0
Why is it impressive? I bet she squats more than you!
Article source: stronglifts.com (the original page has since been removed).
Translated by: Janar Rückenberg
Come and work out! ArtGym
