Strength Athlete Joe Sullivan Achieves Raw Deadlift PR of 345 Kilograms (760.6 Pounds) Despite Nerve Damage
Athlete Joe Sullivan overcomes nerve damage to achieve a significant deadlift milestone after a long break
Sullivan’s recent comments about breaking through a deadlift plateau provide insight into his timeline as a world-class competitor. His last true raw deadlift PR of 340 kilograms (749.5 pounds) occurred during the 2017 USPA Kern US Open. Sullivan developed nerve pain and damage in 2018, although the cause of the injury is unspecified.
Despite this setback, Sullivan has continued to attempt deadlifts in competition, having attempted at least one in every contest since April 2008. However, his post-injury performance has been impacted, with no successful attempts exceeding 317.5 kilograms (699.9 pounds).
Additionally, Sullivan has not achieved any new PRs, either in training or competition, surpassing his 749.5-pound pull from roughly six years ago.
Sullivan’s recent deadlift milestone has motivated him to attempt new personal achievements in the future, despite a slight struggle during the specific pull. He wrote on Instagram, “It’s just a little farther now with a smile on my face.” Moving forward, he plans to continue his pursuit of excellence in powerlifting.
In terms of recent accomplishments, Sullivan achieved the all-time raw world record back squat of 385 kilograms (848.8 pounds) for the 100-kilogram division in late September 2022 during the 2022 USPA Raw Pro, where he finished in third place. Prior to this event, Sullivan won six consecutive contests dating back to November 2017, including a victory in the 2020 WRPF The Showdown, where he achieved his highest ever raw total of 910.5 kilograms (2007.4 pounds).
Off the competition platform, Sullivan also strives for excellence, as evidenced by his achievement of 19 reps of a 230-kilogram (507-pound) squat AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible) in 2022. His goal was inspired by 1980 Mr. Universe Tom Platz.
Courtesy image @joesullivan_aod (Instagram)
