Ray Orlando Williams
American powerlifter (born 1986)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1986 |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 175–200 kg (386–441 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Powerlifting |
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)