John Haack Archives - Breaking Muscle

John Haack (U90KG) Scores Third Place in Strongman Debut at 2023 Kaos Classic

Robert Zeglinski — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:06:13 +0000

John Haack already had a reputation for being a prolific powerlifter. The athlete holds the bench press and total World Records in both the 90-kilogram and 100-kilogram weight classes. He also possesses the all-time squat mark in the 90-kilogram division. Plus, per his page on Open Powerlifting, he has lost just four times in an extended career dating back to June 2013. At only 30 years old, Haack is already a living powerlifting legend with his name all over the record books. He now may well become a strongman icon soon enough.

On July 23, 2023, in Lytham St. Annes, England, Haack finished in third place during the 2023 U90KG Kaos Classic. The competition served as his strongman debut, potentially adding a degree of impressiveness for an athlete who was only getting his feet wet in a new strength sport.

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Here are the final standings from the 2023 U90KG Kaos Classic:

2023 U90KG Kaos Classic Standings

Dan Benson — 117.5 points
Nick O’Hare — 102 points
John Haack — 102 points
Benjamin Donin — 100 points
Jim Mitchell — 98.5 points
Mike Deli — 98 points
Tyler Davis — 91 points
CJ Krause — 89 points
Leigh Shaw — 87.5 points
Tyler Young — 83 points

The 2023 Kaos Classic featured six events, which were as follows: Max Log Press, Axle Deadlift, Husafell Distance, Farmer’s Carry, Yoke Into Sandbag Load, and Power Stairs. Here’s how Haack fared in his overall performance en route to his third-place finish.

John Haack | Event Performance, 2023 U90 Kaos Classic

Max Log Press — 130 kilograms (286.6 pounds) | 11th place
Axle Deadlift — 10 repetitions of 290 kilograms (639.3 pounds) | Second place
Husafell Distance — 65.90 meters | Third place
Farmer’s Carry — 27.09 seconds | Fourth place
Yoke Into Sandbag Load — 21.26 seconds | 15th place
Power Stairs — 27.92 seconds | First place

If not for his 15th-place result on the Yoke Into Sandbag Load, Haack could’ve made a legitimate run on points into the overall victory. Alas, it remains something to work on in his potential strongman future.

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At the time of this writing, it is unclear if Haack has any future strongman plans down the line. Based on his debut, it could be a fruitful endeavor if he chooses to pursue it. For now, the dynamite athlete is preparing in earnest for the 2023 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro 2. He is the defending champion in the 90-kilogram division and will assuredly look to add to his powerlifting trophy case.

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Powerlifter John Haack Deadlifts an Astonishing 415 Kilograms (915 Pounds) for a PR and Unofficial World Record

Robert Zeglinski — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 20:41:53 +0000

Compared to John Haack, most mere mortals would likely struggle to squat, press, and pull a fraction of the weights he logs for himself. However, Haack has routinely proven he isn’t any Average Joe in the weight room. When this powerlifting superstar stacks his barbell with a staggering number of 45-pound plates, chances are he’ll not only succeed with his lift — he’ll make it seem easy, too.

On Jan. 30, 2023, Haack posted a video to his Instagram profile where he successfully locked out a 415-kilogram (915-pound) raw deadlift. According to a caption in the video of his strength feat, this pull is a personal record (PR) for the powerlifter. It’s also five kilograms (11 pounds) more than his current 90-kilogram weight class World Record of 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds). Haack notched that mark at the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro during a first-place performance. For this latest training feat, the athlete wore a lifting belt and wrist wraps, utilized a mixed grip, and completed his deadlift from a conventional stance.

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Haack finished this deadlift relatively easily, but it wasn’t entirely smooth. The powerlifter launched off the ground with ease but did slow his pull to a degree as he reached the full lockout position. The clip shows Haack with a noticeable shake in his lower half as he tries to cap his unofficial largest pull ever. Within the confines of a formal lifting contest, a rigid official on hand might have thrown a red light on Haack’s deadlift, as is there a hint of a hitch to complete it. Hitches are illegal on the powerlifting platform and are typically only permitted in strongman contests.

Haack’s latest groundbreaking deadlift is connected to ongoing preparation for his next sanctioned lifting competition. As he confirms in his Instagram post, the athlete will compete in the upcoming WRPF Ghost Clash 2. The contest will be his first of 2023, as well as his first lifting appearance since late September 2022. If this latest pull is a harbinger of what’s to come from one of powerlifting’s more prominent names, Haack should be ready to fly by his peers on Feb. 18-19, 2023, in Miami, FL.

Per Open Powerlifting, Haack maintained a spotless competitive record in 2022. He won each of the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Raw Pro, the 2022 WRPF American Pro, and the 2022 USPA Hybrid Showdown 4 contests. Between the 90-kilogram and 100-kilogram weight classes, the athlete set five raw World Records in the process. They are as follows:

John Haack | 2022 Powerlifting World Records

100-Kilogram Division

Bench Press — 272.5 kilograms (600.7 pounds) — Raw World Record
Total — 1,030 kilograms (2,270.7 pounds) — Raw World Record

90-Kilogram Division

Bench Press — 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds) — Raw World Record
Deadlift — 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds) — Raw World Record
Total — 1,022.5 kilograms (2,254.2 pounds) — Raw World Record

At the time of this writing, it is unclear what weight class Haack will compete in at the WRPF Ghost Clash 2 in mid-February. It’s worth noting his top deadlift of 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds) is identical in both the 90 and 100-kilogram categories. That potentially means regardless of where Haack officially features, he is liable to shine again and put on a show well in line with his past high standards.

Featured image: @bilbo_swaggins181 on Instagram

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John Haack (100KG) Bench Presses Over 600 Pounds, Sets New World Record at 2022 USPA Raw Pro

Robert Zeglinski — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 13:00:47 +0000

On Sept. 24, 2022, powerlifter John Haack set an all-time World Record in the 100-kilogram division with a raw bench press of 272.5 kilograms (600.7 pounds) during the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Raw Pro in North Kansas City, MO. The mark helped Haack to a first-place performance. With the lofty figure, Haack officially surpassed his own record mark of 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds) from the 2022 USPA Hybrid Showdown 4.

In addition to his bench press record, Haack logged personal records (PR) on his back squat and total. Check out footage of Haack’s top lifts from the competition via this summary post on his Instagram profile:

Here’s a rundown of Haack’s complete performance from this contest:

John Haack (100KG) | 2022 USPA Raw Pro Top Stats

Squat — 347.5 kilograms (766 pounds)
Bench Press — 272.5 kilograms (600.6 pounds) | All-Time Raw World Record
Deadlift — 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds)
Total — 1,030 kilograms (2,270.5 pounds)

Haack had been chasing an official 272-kilogram (600-pound) bench press for some time.

The athlete’s social media is rife with various training highlights of himself successfully finishing presses at or over that weight benchmark over the last few months. A 275-kilogram (606.3-pound) bench press from mid-September 2022 might first come to mind as to Haack foreshadowing a new pending record. However, he hadn’t managed the accomplishment in a sanctioned setting. That is until the 2022 USPA Raw Pro, where he became the first-ever 100-kilogram athlete to bench press at least 600 pounds raw in competition.

Notably, Haack possesses World Records in two competitive divisions. According to Open Powerlifting, the athlete owns the bench press and total World Record in the 100-kilogram weight class and the bench press, deadlift, and total World Records in the 90-kilogram category.

Here’s an overview of some of his more noteworthy recent career results:

John Haack | Recent Noteworthy Career Results

2020 USPA Metroflex Powermania (Open/Raw) — First place
2020 World Raw Powerlifting Federation The Showdown (Open/Raw) — First place
2021 WRPF Hybrid Showdown III (Open/Raw) — First place
2021 WRPF Kern US Open (Open/Raw) — Second place
2021 WRPF The Bucked Up Showdown (Open/Raw) — First place
2022 USPA Hybrid Showdown 4 (Open/Raw) — First place
2022 WRPF American Pro (Open/Raw) — First place
2022 USPA Raw Pro (Open/Raw) — First place

Haack might be basking in his latest powerlifting accomplishment at the time of this writing. The athlete has not announced or alluded to any upcoming competitive plans. For someone that seems to set a new record every time he steps onto a platform, expectations will likely be sky high the next time he competes.

Featured image: @bilbo_swaggins181 on Instagram

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Powerlifter John Haack (90KG) Casually Scores a 606-Pound Bench Press PR

Robert Zeglinski — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 20:18:01 +0000

On September 12, 2022, American powerlifter John Haack shared Instagram footage where he captured a raw 275-kilogram (606.3-pound) bench press during a training session. Per the caption of his post, the successful bench press rep is a new personal record (PR) for Haack.

According to Open Powerlifting, Haack’s new bench press mark unofficially exceeds his all-time raw competition best by 7.5 kilograms (16.6 pounds). That figure of 267.4 kilograms (589.7 pounds) from the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro is the current all-time World Record in the 90-kilogram division.

Haack’s display of strength conveniently comes at a time when he’ll soon have the opportunity to extend his World Record. The powerlifter is preparing for the upcoming United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Pro Raw. That competition will take place on Sept. 24, 2022, at the Brave Enough CrossFit Gym in North Kansas City, MO.

In addition to his staggering bench press record, Haack also possesses the all-time World Record deadlift and total in the 90-kilogram category. Here’s an overview of the athlete’s top all-time raw competition bests:

John Haack (90KG) | All-Time Raw Competition Bests

Squat — 345 kilograms (760.6 pounds)
Bench Press — 267.4 kilograms (589.7 pounds) | All-Time World Record
Deadlift — 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds) | All-Time World Record
Total — 1,022 kilograms (2,254.2 pounds) | All-Time World Record

Throughout his career, Haack has established a high standard of excellence. Of 25 powerlifting contests to his name, some of which he competed in both the Open and Junior divisions, Haack has won on 21 occasions and qualified for the podium 24 times. When he competes at the USPA Pro, Haack will try to extend his winning streak to four competitions dating back to September 2021.

Here’s a rundown of notable results from Haack’s career:

John Haack | Notable Career Results

2013 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Badger Open (Open/Raw) — First Place | First career victory
2015-2016 USAPL Raw Nationals (Open/Junior/Raw) — First place
2017 WRPF Boss of Bosses 4 (Open/Raw) — First place
2018-2019 USPA The Tribute (Open/Raw) — First place
2020 USPA Metroflex Powermania (Open/Raw) — First place
2020 WRPF The Showdown (Open/Raw) — First place
2021 WRPF Hybrid Showdown III (Open/Raw) — First place
2021 WRPF Kern US Open (Open/Raw) — Second place
2021 WRPF The Bucked Up Showdown (Open/Raw) — First place
2022 USPA Hybrid Showdown 4 (Open/Raw) — First place
2022 WRPF American Pro (Open/Raw) — First place

Haack doesn’t have much to prove as a powerlifting superstar with a few World Records under his belt. One of the best things he could do is to continue building a legendary resume by attaining even loftier records.

Featured image: @bilbo_swaggins181 on Instagram

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Powerlifter John Haack Matches Raw World Record Squat With New 365-Kilogram lift

Robert Zeglinski — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 19:47:39 +0000

As the owner of the bench press, deadlift, and total World Records in the 90-kilogram weight class, John Haack is one of powerlifting’s biggest active superstars. If his latest feat of strength says anything, the powerful athlete might soon possess yet another record.

On July 17, 2022, over his Instagram, Haack shared footage of himself squatting 365 kilograms (804.7 pounds) raw for a new personal record (PR) during a training session. Haack’s current all-time raw competition best is a 339.9-kilogram (749.5-pound) squat from the 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) The Bucked Up Showdown.

What might be even more noteworthy about Haack’s new PR is the unique position it puts him in. Haack’s PR matches Amit Sapir’s all-time raw squat World Record of 365 kilograms (804.7 pounds) in the 90-kilogram weight class. Sapir achieved the official figure at the 2015 Canadian Powerlifting League (CPL) Vancouver PRO-AM Expo.

According to the caption of Haack’s Instagram post, he figures to take this squat PR to the 2022 WRPF American Pro. That contest will occur in Manassas, VA, on July 29-30, 2022. If Haack perhaps even betters his PR, he would be the owner of each of the squat, bench press, deadlift, and total World Records in the 90-kilogram division.

Haack’s most recent contest, the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Hybrid Showdown 4, saw him compete in the 100-kilogram weight class. However, as his Instagram post reads, Haack has reduced his weight back to the 90-kilogram category. Haack has competed in the 90-kilogram division in five contests since January 2020.

Here are Haack’s all-time raw competition bests as a 90-kilogram competitor throughout his career:

John Haack (90KG) | All-Time Raw Competition Bests

Squat — 339.9 kilograms (749.5 pounds)
Bench Press — 263 kilograms (579.8 pounds) | All-Time World Record
Deadlift — 402.5 kilograms (887.3 pounds) | All-Time World Record
Total — 1,005 kilograms (2,216.7 pounds) | All-Time World Record

In a performance that was likely one of his career highlights, Haack achieved each of his bench press, deadlift, and total records at the 2021 WRPF The Bucked Up Showdown. At the time of this writing, Haack is the only 90-kilogram powerlifter to notch at least a 1,000-kilogram total.

Here are some of the more notable results from Haack’s career, who has won 10 of 11 official contests since August 2018:

John Haack | Notable Career Results

2013 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Badger Open (Raw) — First place | Open | 83KG | First career victory
2015-2016 USAPL Raw Nationals (Raw) — First place | Open/Junior | 83KG
2016 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Championships (Raw) — First place | Open | 83KG
2018-2019 USPA The Tribute (Raw) — First place | Open | 83KG
2020 WRPF The Showdown (Raw) — First place | Open | 90KG
2022 USPA Hybrid Showdown 4 (Raw) — First place | Open | 100KG

Haack is already one of the more decorated powerlifters as it stands. Owning three World Records would establish such a reputation. By the end of July 2022, he might add another unique accomplishment to his ledger.

Featured image: @bilbo_swaggins181 on Instagram

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