Williams continues to raise the bar in the world of powerlifting

Williams continues to raise the bar in the world of powerlifting
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

Coach Ray Williams represented his country and ICC in record-breaking fashion during the 2015 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Classic Powerlifting World Championships in Salo, Finland.

Williams, who joined the football coaching staff as the defensive line coach in 2011, increased his own world record by squatting 938 pounds (425.5 kilograms) in his final lift and broke his own world record by totaling 2,206 lbs. (1000.5 kg) to become the only person on the planet to surpass the 1000 kg mark by IPF drug-free standards.

Click here to see Ray's lifts from the 2015 World Championships

His record setting marks came in the classic category – sometimes referred to "unequipped" or "raw" in the world of powerlifting – which simply means his lifts were unassisted by supportive equipment.

Williams benched 518 lbs. (235 kg) and moved 749 lbs. (340 kg) in the deadlift to claim his second powerlifting world title.

"God has given me a gift and I wanted to let it shine in front of the world," Williams posted on his Instagram account after his record-breaking performance.

The humble giant went on to take everyone that helped his dream become a reality before closing his post by saying, "It takes more than hard work to build a champion, you need family as well."

And family is where he found his passion for powerlifting.

His brother, William Burrell, introduced Williams to the sport by inviting him to a meet in Mobile, Alabama as a "test run" to see how he liked it.

"I fell in love with it right away," said Williams. "I came home and began to training as a powerlifter shortly after that meet."

Williams first realized his potential as a powerlifter during the 2013 Alabama Powerlifting State Championships.

"When I successfully came up with 905 in Mobile is when I got hungry for more," Williams said. "Then when I went to Australia and missed my mark that's when I knew I was going to have to do more than just move a lot of weight to be successful in this sport."  

The lift vaulted him into the national spotlight when AL.com's Mark Inabinett penned his "Cornbread-and-buttermilk" article about Williams' performance during the meet.

His first world championship came when he moved 909 lbs. to set his first world record in squat before setting the former world record total of 2,144 lbs. during the 2014 IPF Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"It was such an honor to represent the United States and I give God all the credit for the success he has blessed me with," Williams said of his world records.

The former UT-Martin defensive lineman's lift of 909 pounds has been called a crucial moment in powerlifting history by many within the sport.

Williams is scheduled to participate in the USAPL Summer Showdown on Friday, June 26 in Atlanta, Georgia.

"This will be my final competition before we start football season," said Williams. "I had to be a smart lifter during the World Championship, but now I can cut loose and show what I can really do before turning all my focus on football."

The Indians are wrapping up their final stages of their summer workout program and will return to campus in August before kicking off the season on Thursday, August 27 against Co-Lin.

For more information on Williams and the ICC football program, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).