On May 3, 2022, Marissa Wilson stepped into the squat rack and showed off impressive strength on the compound lift. During the training session, the powerlifter squatted an incredible 260.8 kilograms (575 pounds). Wilson — who most recently competed in the 110-kilogram-plus weight class — completed the squat while wearing knee sleeves and wrist wraps. It is unclear whether she wore a lifting belt, though it could be under her shirt.
The staggering squat double eclipses Wilson’s best-ever official max rep of 252.4 kilograms (556.6 pounds) from the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Drug Tested Hershey Winter Classic by almost 20 kilograms.
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[Related: Powerlifter Nicolaas Du Preez Squats 420 Kilograms (926 Pounds) With Ease During Training]
In her moment of triumph, Wilson could not hold back her pride. The powerlifter recently announced over her social media that she would compete in the 2022 USPA National Championships on May 27-31, 2022, in Atlanta, GA.
With that meet a little under a month away, it’s understandable she shows a little pride in exceeding her previous best squat twice.
“I am at a loss of words, to be honest,” Wilson wrote in her post’s caption. “I am just beyond proud of myself! Four weeks out!”
In notching such a stellar feat of strength, Wilson had a noteworthy person to thank — fellow powerlifter and friend, Tamara Walcott — for being a supportive inspiration in her journey.
“Thank you [Walcott] for pouring into me,” Wilson wrote. “And believing in me. And always just hyping me up. It’s never a competition with us, and I love that!”
It seems iron does sharpen iron for Wilson, Walcott, and other competitive powerlifters.
Prideful Success
Wilson has only been professionally powerlifting since mid-2018. Given a penchant for victory, it would be hard to tell she ever had any inexperience as a powerlifter. Wilson possesses six first-place finishes in eight career competitions and another second-place result. Here’s her notable record of finishes to date:
Marissa Wilson | Notable Career Results
- 2018 RAW Potomac Open — 1st place
- 2018 USPA Drug Tested Maryland State Championships — 1st place
- 2019 USPA Drug Tested NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo — 2nd place
- 2019 USPA Drug Tested M.A.S.S Weekend Classic — 1st place
- 2019 USPA Drug Tested NOVA Fall Classic — 1st place
- 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) FQ Classic — 1st place
- 2022 USPA Drug Tested Hershey Winter Classic — 1st place
Wilson competed in the 110-kilogram weight class for the first time during the 2022 USPA Drug Tested Hershey Winter Classic. Before that, she always competed with +90-kilogram powerlifters. Wilson may carry her latest weight class distinction over to the 2022 USPA National Championships.
With an established track record for fantastic lifts throughout her competitive career, Wilson has become one of the rising names in the sport. Here are her all-time bests to this point:
Marissa Wilson | Competition PRs
- Squat — 252.4 kilograms (556.6 pounds) | Raw
- Bench Press — 139.9 kilograms (308.6 pounds) | Raw
- Deadlift — 204.9 kilograms (451.9 pounds) | Raw
- Total — 597.4 kilograms (1,317.2 pounds) | Raw
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The USPA National Championships Are Next
A combination of ambition and support from her friends likely helped take Wilson this far. With this new squat PR, among other feats, she might make even more noise in Atlanta in the coming weeks.
The 2022 USPA National Championships will take place on May 27-31, 2022, in Atlanta, GA.
Featured image: @ms_phenomenalred on Instagram
