for competitive olympic lifters, world record caliber squats it’s just another day at work. This was certainly the case for Kazakh weightlifter Artyom Antropov who, on June 21, 2022, posted an ultra-heavy 300 kilograms (661.3 pounds) back squat double to social networks
Antropov’s exhibit of leg strength not only does it help validate your case as one of the best Olympic light heavyweight lifters in the world, but his squat also rivals the best world-class efforts squat specialists what makes them competitive Weightlifting your main directive.
A powerlifter like Antropov may not necessarily be able to sign up for and win an international powerlifting competition, but he can definitely hang out with career squatters.
[Related: Weightlifter Mattie Rogers Squats All-Time Personal Record of 190KG]
To break this set of two into the back squat, Antropov used a pair of weight lifting shoesa lifting beltY kneepads. In particular, he disassembled his bar from a squatting position which was then removed from his platform, giving him ample free space to work.
Artyom Antropov’s weightlifting career
Antropov, 22, has competed for Kazakhstan for the better part of a decade, starting with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Junior World Championships in 2016, where he ranked seventh.
Since then, he has participated in nine IWF events in total, competing in the entire (previous) Classes of 85, 96 and 102 kilograms, according to the IWF’s athlete registration.
Artem Antropov | Results of the main competition
- 2016 Junior World Championships: Prayed
- 2017 Asian Junior Championships: Prayed
- 2020 Asian Junior Championships: Prayed
- 2019 junior world championships: Silver
- 2021 world weightlifting championships: 4th
Note: These classifications refer to Antropov’s result in the Total, which combines the best of the athlete snatch with his best clean and jerk.
Weightlifters vs. Weightlifters in the squat
It’s a bold claim, but backed up by mountains of evidence: Olympic lifters can trade blows with some of the The best squats powerlifting has to offer.all while training the back squat just like an accessory to your sport.
For example, him International Weightlifting Federation (IPF) The men’s open classic squat record in the 93-kilogram class is 331 kilos (729.7 pounds), held by Anatolii novopismenny from Ukraine
Antropov primarily competes at 96 kilograms of bodyweight, and his 300-kilogram stuntman will likely mark his one rep max squat somewhere in the range of 320 kilograms. So the question arises: how does a weightlifter’s secondary training keep up with one of a weightlifter’s competitive moves?
Good weightlifters would also be good weightlifters
your genetics decide the lion’s share of your athletic potential long before you pick up a bar. As such, the training style What you practice in the weight room is a reflection of your genetic potential.
The back squat is simply a expression of strengthand so it’s a safe bet that Antropov (or Novopismenny) would do quite well if either of them had gotten into a different strength sport than their chosen careers.
Weightlifters squat all the time
Although they are judged by their snatch and jerk skillsOlympic lifters still do the backstroke (and front) occupy squatting a large part of their total economics of training. You need strong legs to lift heavy weights, whether off a shelf or from the ground up.
Weightlifters also accumulate large amounts of volume Y skill work in your standard training. Every clean, snatch or head squat it requires you to rise from deep hip and knee flexion, which also translates to your one-rep max.
Weightlifters are specific
While talented and hard-working athletes are poised to do well regardless of the physical activity of your choice, the critical factor at the end of the day is specificity. Weightlifters like Novopismenny (and others) train week after week to do your squat like sound technically and powerful as they can be.
Weightlifters, on the other hand, commonly perform their squats at the end of their regular workouts, often under a fatigue element. As such, they do not accumulate as much dedicated, high-quality practice in the movement pattern squat like a weightlifter would.
Leverage is everything
Powerlifters have a very discreet and clear goal — grab a barbell from a standing position to the depth where the hip crease is below the kneecap and vice versa. As such, the low bar position it is the weapon of choice for any serious powerlifter.
The low bar squat technique may look visually similar to a high bar squat, but there are a few key mechanical differences at play:
- Low bar squats reduce your range of motion (compared to most high bar squats).
- The position of the lower bar balance the load of the bar more evenly between legs and back.
- The low bar technique helps you use your lower back muscles and hip extensors to gain weight.
All of this allows a powerlifter to lift slightly more weight than their powerlifting cousins.
power is power
No matter what field you’re in, it’s worth recognizing and respecting the efforts you make. powerlifters and weightlifters alike put on their respective sports. It’s undoubtedly impressive that weightlifters like Antropov can casually squat with IPF podium-caliber weights as some kind of “afterthought.”
Equally remarkable, however, is the distance race weightlifters go to squat as precise and powerful as possible. The specialization speaks for itself, as most, if not all, of the heaviest squats of all time they are held by powerlifters.
Still, it would be hard to hit Antropov for his squat game. It’s definitely paying off for him in the weight platform.
Featured Image: artyom.antropov on Instagram
