Demopolis native Ray Williams sets world records in South Africa
It has been a productive 2014 thus far for Demopolis High alum Ray Williams as he has taken to assaulting world power lifting records.
Williams, who graduated from UT-Martin in 2009 and currently serves as the defensive line coach at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Miss, traveled to Melbourne Australia earlier this year where he competed in the Pacific International Invitational on the invitation of Robert Wilks.
In that meet, Williams shattered the world squat record of 849 pounds with a mark of 903. Williams also set a new totals world record when he lifted a combined 2,138 pounds. That mark combines his high lifts in squat, bench and deadlift.
“When I successfully came up with 905 in Mobile at the Alabama State Championship,” Williams said of the moment when chasing the world records became a tangible goal for him.
Williams starred on the defensive line for Demopolis and UT-Martin before finding his competitive niche in powerlifting.
“Well my brother (William Burrell) went to a meet in Mobile as a test run to see how he liked it. He liked it a lot and I then began to train for powerlifting shortly after that,” Williams recalled.
Having accomplished such great feats in Australia, Williams returned home with new goals in mind.
“It makes me work harder because I didn’t get the mark I wanted,” he said. “So I know I can do a lot better than what I did.”
Williams did just that Sunday in the 2014 IFP Classic World Men’s Championship in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Williams realized his professed goal of breaking both the all-time squat and totals records when he broke his own world record with a 909-pound raw squat in South Africa. That mark helped propel him to breaking the totals record with a mark 2,144 pounds (972.5 kilograms).
“It was an honor to be on the U.S. team and I give God all credit,” Williams said of his world record and first world championship in the Super Heavyweight class.
The ease with which Williams hoisted 909 pounds to break his own squat record has prompted some within the sport to call his lift a crucial moment in powerlifting history.
“I have heard of the same things,” Williams said with a laugh. “I’m just a blessed individual who has really strong legs.”
Williams will now likely turn his attention to the USAPL Raw National Championships in July.
The video of Williams’ world championship squat can be viewed here.
