Russel Orhii

Russel Tiza Orhii (born December 9, 1994) is an American powerlifter competing in the 93 kilogram weight class. He previously won the IPF World Championships twice, USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals five times, and Powerlifting America Raw Nationals once in the 83 kilogram weight class.^[1]

Russel Orhii

Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1994-12-09) December 9, 1994 (age 30) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	91.8 kg (202 lb)
Sport
Country	United States (2015–2021; 2022–present)  United States Virgin Islands (2021)
Sport	Powerlifting
Event	93 kg
Coached by	Joseph Ferratti
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	Squat: 355.5 kg (2025) Bench Press: 207.5 kg (2025) Deadlift: 355 kg (2025) Total: 918 kg (2025)
Medal record Men's powerlifting Representing  United States IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships 2018 Calgary – 83 kg 2019 Helsingborg – 83 kg 2024 Druskininkai – 83 kg Powerlifting America Raw Nationals 2024 Reno – 83 kg USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals 2017 Orlando – 83 kg 2018 Spokane – 83 kg 2019 Lombard – 83 kg 2021 Daytona Beach – 83 kg 2022 Las Vegas – 82.5 kg Representing  United States Virgin Islands IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships 2021 Halmstad – 83 kg

Powerlifting career

Orhii competed in his first powerlifting competition in 2015, and competed in bodybuilding in 2016.^[1]

In 2018, Orhii qualified for the IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships, and competed in the open as a junior (23-years-old). He would squat an open world record of 298.5 kilograms, which would shortly be surpassed by Brett Gibbs. Orhii would secure second place at the competition.^[2]

In 2019, Orhii qualified a second time, where he became IPF World Champion in the 83 kilogram weight class.^[3] He would also break the world record squat with 313 kilograms and a world record 833 kilogram total.^[4]

In 2021, the IPF suspended and later expelled USA Powerlifting for non-compliance with their anti-doping code. American athletes were ineligible to compete at the 2021 IPF World Championships.^[5] Orhii was eligible to compete but represented the United States Virgin Islands. Orhii would win the IPF World Championships for a third time, and would break his own squat world record, the deadlift world record and break his own total world record.^[6]

In 2022, Orhii would withdraw from competing in the IPF in favor of USA Powerlifting. Competing in the 82.5 kilogram weight class, Orhii competed at the 2022 USA Powerlifting Mega Nationals, where he would secure first place, and would break the squat and total American Record.^[7]

In 2023, Orhii withdrew from the USA Powerlifting nationals to compete in the IPF again. IPF rules disallow athletes who compete outside an IPF-affilited meet for 6 months, which forced Orhii to withdraw from USA Powerlifting Nationals to compete in Powerlifting America Nationals, a qualification meet for IPF Worlds.^[8][9] At the 2024 Powerlifting America nationals, Orhii unofficially broke three IPF world records and secured first place.^[10]

In 2024, Orhii competed at the IPF Classic powerlifting world championships, where he squatted 321 kilograms to break his own world record. He would secure a silver medal with a total of 843.5 kilograms, which would be a world record, before being surpassed by gold medalist Jurins Kengamu of Great Britain with a total of 845 kilograms.^[11][12]

On January 26, 2025, Orhii competed at the 2025 SBD Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, where he squatted 338 kilograms to break his own world record twice (after squatting 323 kilograms for his second attempt). He would secure a new total world record of 870.5 kilograms. With his total being 101.10% of the previous world record, he secured fourth place.^[13][14] On July 31, Orhii graduated to the 93 kilogram weight class, where he totaled 918 kilograms and squatted 355.5 kilograms for an open world record at the 2025 Pan-American Classic Powerlifting Championships.^[15]

Business

Orhii is the founder of Corrupted Strength, a powerlifting gym in Stafford, Texas, which opened in 2021.^[16] Before its opening, Orhii ran a powerlifting mock meet in the gym.^[17] The gym would close in 2023 due to Orhii's landlord refusing to renew the lease.^[18]

Personal life

Russel Tiza Orhii^[19][20] was born on December 9, 1994 in San Antonio, Texas and shortly moved to Houston where he grew up.^[21] He is the son of Nigerian politician Paul Orhii.^[22]

Personal records

Competition bests

• Squat – 355.5 kg (783.7 lbs)
• Bench Press – 207.5 kg (457.4 lbs)
• Deadlift – 355 kg (782.6 lbs)
• Total – 918 kg (2,032.8 lbs)

Record lifts in competition

• Squat – 301 kg (663.6 lbs) – USA Powerlifting Junior American Record (83 kg) – 10/11/2018
• Squat – 323 kg (712.1 lbs) – USA Powerlifting Open American Record (83 kg) – 6/14/2021
• Total – 843 kg (1,858.5 lbs) – USA Powerlifting Open American Record (83 kg) – 6/14/2021
• Deadlift – 333 kg (734.1 lbs) – IPF Open Classic World Record (83 kg) – 9/30/2021
• Squat – 320.5 kg (706.6 lbs) – USA Powerlifting Open American Record (82.5 kg) – 6/8/2022
• Total – 838 kg (1,847.5 lbs) – USA Powerlifting Open American Record (82.5 kg) – 6/8/2022
• Squat – 321 kg (707.7 lbs) – IPF Open Classic World Record (83 kg) – 6/18/2024
• Total – 844.5 kg (1,861.8 lbs) – IPF Open Classic World Record (83 kg) – 6/18/2024
• Squat – 355.5 kg (783.7 lbs) – IPF Open Classic World Record (93 kg) – 7/31/2025
• Total – 918 kg (2,032.8 lbs) – IPF Open Classic World Record (93 kg) – 7/31/2025