Carlos Reyes

This will be the last time I live in the past and reflect on @theghostclash before starting off-season training. This 804.6 lb squat was a milestone that I’ve been chasing for 6+ years, and hitting it in competition was the single most rewarding moment of my career. When I first got into powerlifting, sleeved squatting or walking it out wasn’t really a thing in the untested division. Wraps and the monolift dominated the game. My second meet was Raw Unity VII, where athletes on the first day took on the additional challenges of not having wraps and walking it out. Watching them do things the old school way was so inspiring and I knew I wanted to challenge my squat the same way. It took me 3 more years to gain the courage to ditch the wraps and add a few steps to my squat. In 2016 I hit 750 lbs in sleeves 5 months after hitting 805 lbs with wraps, and set a personal goal of walking out and hitting 800 plus in sleeves. It took another 6 years, 6 meets, of adding just 2.5-5kgs per year to finally hit this goal, in addition to multiple setbacks, injuries and technique changes. When I first set the goal, I thought the goal was right around the corner and a training cycle or two away. But the fact that this goal tested my patience to such a great degree, and the lift itself being the toughest squat I’ve ever had on the platform, made it so much sweeter than if I were to hit it in a faster timeline. Training, preps, and meets rarely go according to plan, and the timelines we set for ourselves as athletes are often so unrealistic. We all know lifters who achieve a 100 lb round milestone, and think the next 100 lbs is just a meet or two away. But unless you’re part of the genetic 0.01%, you’re likely going to be tested, broken, and have to pick up the pieces more than once. Your moments of doubt are going to our number your moments of confidence. Don’t let unrealistic social media motivation porn or the trajectory of genetic elites deter you from being realistic, pragmatic and staying the course for longer than you intended to. IT IS WORTH IT. Thanks to @cigarrett.fear @b_dimez @a1.digital @alexuslar for making this moment so special!