Ray Orlando Williams
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1986 |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 175–200 kg (386–441 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Powerlifting |
Ray Orlando Williams (born September 15, 1986) is an American powerlifter.[1][2][3][4] He holds the world record for the heaviest drug-tested, raw squat[5][6] at 490 kg (1,080 lb).[7][8]
Career
Williams broke the raw squat world record (with the use of only a belt and knee sleeves) for the first time in 2016 when he squatted 438 kg (966 lb) at IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Texas. Even-though Don Reinhoudt squatted 423.9 kg (934.5 lb) in 1976 (using ace bandages), it is this lift from Williams which was done in only sleeves which is regarded to have broken Paul Anderson's 51-year old raw squat record of 421.4 kg (929.0 lb) from 1965. Four months later, he became the first man to squat 1,000 pounds Raw (in sleeves only) when he squatted 456 kg (1,005 lb) during the USAPL Raw Nationals.[9][10] Williams kept on breaking the raw squat world record with sleeves, squatting 477.5 kg (1,053 lb) in 2017, 485 kg (1,069 lb) in 2018 and finally 490 kg (1,080 lb) in 2019 where it stands today.[7][11]
Williams also broke the IPF deadlift world record twice when he deadlifted 392.5 kg (865 lb) in 2017, breaking John Kuc's 38-year old IPF record[12] and extended it to 398.5 kg (879 lb) in 2018[13] which stood until Jesus Olivares pulled 399 kg (880 lb) in 2023.
In June 2025, Williams received a 16-month suspension after testing positive for heptaminol, a prohibited substance by the USADA. His first place performance at the 2025 Powerlifting America Raw Nationals was also annulled.[14]
Personal records
- Squat – 490 kg (1,080 lb) (2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American) (World Record)
- Bench press – 247.5 kg (546 lb) (2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American)
- Deadlift – 398.5 kg (879 lb) (2018 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships) (former IPF world record)
- Total – 1,112.5 kg (2,453 lb) (490 + 247.5 + 375 kg (1,080 + 546 + 827 lb)) (2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American) (former IPF world record)
References
- ^ Schwartz, Nick (17 October 2016). "Watch powerlifter Ray Williams set record by squatting 1,005 pounds raw". Fox Sports. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ Stephenson, Creg (5 August 2015). "Watch Alabama native Ray Williams squat 938 pounds to set world record". AL.com. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "Heavy Lifter". Demopolis Times. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "Ray Williams: Power lifter". University of Tennessee at Martin. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "ICC's Williams sets new American, unoffical [sic] world record at Arnold Classic". WTVA News. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "DPL gears up for February events". Demopolis Times. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Ray Williams Squats an Incredible 490kg (1,080 lbs) RAW". BarBend. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "STRENGTH RECORD, Powerlifting World Records". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Ray Williams Hits First-Ever 1,000 Pound Raw (No Wraps) Squat in Powerlifting History". BarBend. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ Scott, Rob. "Watch Ray Williams Become the First Person in Powerlifting History to Squat 1,000 Pounds Raw". Stack. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "WATCH: "Ray Ray" Williams Squats 490 kg RAW". Fitness Volt. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ IPF (5 March 2017). "Ray Williams with a massive 392.5 kg deadlift and 1105 kg total". Instagram. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Open Powerlifting (6 June 2018). "Ray Williams (M)". openpowerlifting.org. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Ray Williams Accepts Doping Sanction | USADA". U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.