Ray Orlando Williams (born September 15, 1986) is an American powerlifter who previously held the world record for the heaviest raw squat at 490kg (1,080lb). Williams is a five-time IPF classic world powerlifting champion, as well as a six-time USA Powerlifting national champion, and two-time Powerlifting America national champion.

Career

Williams broke the raw squat world record (with the use of only a belt and knee sleeves) for the first time in 2016 when he squatted 438kg (966lb) at the 2016 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Killeen, Texas. Even though Don Reinhoudt squatted 423.9kg (934.5lb) in 1976 (using ace bandages), it is this lift from Williams which is regarded to have broken Paul Anderson's 51-year old raw squat record of 421.4kg (929.0lb) from 1965. Four months later, he became the first man to squat 1,000 pounds with only knee sleeves when he squatted 456kg (1,005lb) during the 2016 USAPL Raw Nationals. Williams continued to break the raw squat world record, squatting 477.5kg (1,053lb) in 2017, 485kg (1,069lb) in 2018 and 490kg (1,080lb) in 2019. His record-breaking 490 kg squat was surpassed in 2026 by Devonte Lewis with 490.5kg (1,081lb) at USAPL Raw Nationals.

Williams also broke the IPF deadlift world record twice when he deadlifted 392.5kg (865lb) in 2017, breaking John Kuc's 38-year old IPF record and extended it to 398.5kg (879lb) in 2018 which stood until Jesus Olivares deadlifted 399kg (880lb) in 2023.

In June 2025, Williams received a 16-month suspension after testing positive for heptaminol, a prohibited substance by the USADA. His first place performance at the 2025 Powerlifting America Raw Nationals was also annulled.

Personal records

  • Squat – 490kg (1,080lb) (2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American)
  • Bench press – 247.5kg (546lb) (2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American)
  • Deadlift – 398.5kg (879lb) (2018 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships)
  • Total – 1,112.5kg (2,453lb) (2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American)