🏋️ a powerlifter's 1,025-pound squat

After seeing actor Jonathan Majors fill up the screen in the latest Ant-Man and Creed sequels, we think it's finally time for the Oscars to create a "Best in Bulk" award.  

Jesus Olivares broke the 1,000-pound squat barrier last year. Now, the powerlifting behemoth looks hot on the trail of history. 

The 2023 Arnold Classic finally arrives this weekend. Here's a preview of what we can expect from the Men's Open division. 

Whether you're training for a strongman show or just want to shake up your routine, you can start by doing these 10 exercises. 

Powerlifting 

Jesus Olivares Defies Squat Logic 

The display name on Jesus Olivares' Instagram profile reads "mega.gojira" — and if you didn't know, it's a reference to the Japanese name for Godzilla. Judging by the powerlifter's latest monstrous feat in the squat rack, the connection is all too fitting. 

Last week, Olivares crushed a 465-kilogram (1,025.1-pound) raw squat during a training session. Not only was the lift a personal record, but it could foreshadow a bit of history in the near future. Should Olivares transfer this lift to the upcoming Sheffield Championships next month, he will officially have the third-heaviest raw squat of all time. 

We might be a little biased, but that seems more powerful than everyone's favorite gigantic reptile. 

Bodybuilding

Previewing the Arnold Classic Main Event

The wait is almost over. This weekend, much of bodybuilding's elite will gather in Columbus, Ohio, to decide the next champions of the Arnold Classic. And much of the hype this year surrounds the Men's Open category, which will feature competitors like Nick Walker and Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay squaring off for the second-biggest prize in the sport.

From a look at the roster, the history of the competition, and who might be the top contenders, we covered it all in a detailed preview of the Men's Open showdown at the 2023 Arnold Classic. 

Training Tips

Beastly Strength at Your Fingertips

In many ways, the sport of strongman is the Wild West of strength training. Where other sports have rigid rulesets and nuanced technical parameters that can invalidate a lift, strongman takes the reins off. You simply have to push, pull, carry, hoist, or hold the object for as long or as far as needed; that’s the game.

However, that doesn’t mean that strongman training is all brawn and no brains. Strongman competitors rely on a wide array of different movements to prep for their sport — some of which closely resemble the tasks you’ll see on event day, while others are vastly different.

If you’re curious about strongman and want to dip your feet into the sport for yourself, the first thing you need to know is what movements define strongman training. Here are 10 of the most integral lifts for the strongman, plus some practical workarounds if you don’t have the right equipment on-hand.

Everything Else

Mitchell Hooper's Leg-Press Teaser

• The Arnold Strongman Classic is also this weekend. And Mitchell Hooper looks ready.

• The Community Gyms Coalition is launching a terrific new "Fitness is Essential" campaign.

• The clean & jerk can give you total body strength and power. We explain how.