The 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) will happen in less than two weeks. Many athletes are finishing their prep cycles including Rob Kearney, the self-proclaimed "World's Strongest Gay," managed to hit a massive equipped squat of 950lbs, check out the lift below!
Who is Rob Kearney?
Rob Kearney is an American Professional strongman from Brooklyn, New York. He has competed in many strongman competitions around the world. Among them includes, The World's Strongest Man, The Arnold Strongman Classic, and the Arnold Strongman Australia. Kearney is known for his pressing prowess and once held the American Log Lift record. In 2017 he won the North American Open, part of the Giants Live tour thus qualifying him for WSM. In 2019 WSM he came third in his group. In 2020 Kearney won the Arnold Strongman Classic by winning the Arnold Pro Strongman Australia.
Rob has also been considered the Pound-For-Pound Strongest Man In The World after taking part in Eddie Hall's challenge. He is also known for being the first openly gay strongman in the sport. When Rob isn't lifting some heavy weights, he's also a best-selling children's book author and trainer.
ROB KEARNEY'S BIG 950lb SQUAT
Rob was able to maintain a consistent speed throughout the rep and explode out of the bottom of the lift, which made it look like an easy rep for him. The equipment used in this video was a pair of knee sleeves, a lifting belt, and a lifting suit.
In the Arnold Strongman Classic, they will be required to use a standard bar. However, Rob can be seen in the video using a duffalo bar, which helps you to squat more comfortably, ease pressure on the arms, and improve body positioning. Training with a duffalo bar is also a great way to improve your bench press. It provides a longer range of motion which can be a beneficial assistance movement to aid your bench progress. It also helps to force the lats to engage throughout the lift.
This year Rob is looking good and can be seen lifting some heavyweights on his Instagram account. Hopefully, he is fully recovered from the triceps tear he had at the beginning of last year. Kearney also had surgery because of a testicular cancer diagnosis. It seems like he has bounced back from those health obstacles, we're looking forward to seeing him compete next month.
Sample Rob Kearney Leg Workout For Huge Squat Gains
This is one of Rob Kearney's heavy lower body training sessions, including safety bar box squats and raised deadlifts. Underneath each exercise are some form cues to follow.
- Safety bar box squats: 3 sets x 2 reps
- Foot placement wider to accentuate the glutes, typically outside shoulder width
- Keep torso upright
- Don't rest at the bottom; the box is not meant as a place to stop
- Explode off the bottom
- Raised Deadlifts: 3 sets x 2 reps, then 2 sets x 1 rep
- Elevate bar to 12" off the ground.
- Keep butt down
- Shoulder blades pulled down and back
- Engage core
- Superset: Ham/Glute Raises x Reverse Hyperextensions: 3 sets x 12 reps
- No breaks between exercises
- Don't go too heavy
Note: Take 2-4 minutes rest between sets in the first two exercises. Last exercise take 1-2 minutes rest between supersets.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This recent squat video from strongman Rob Kearney is impressive and could indicate that he has a lot more in the tank for this year's 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic. Rob's shoulder strength has been incredible in recent years, and with two of the events being shoulder presses, he has a real chance of being a serious competitor this year. Either way, it will be exciting to watch him compete!
Andrew Lenau
Author