Competing in the 59kg division at the Australian Open Championships in Melbourne last weekend, Gray squatted a staggering 245kg with his third attempt, easily eclipsing the 227.5kg world mark he set in Sydney earlier this year.

To cap an amazing championships, Gray, who weighed in at 57.5kg, bench pressed a personal best 100kg and deadlifted 155kg before succumbing to cramping.

Gray’s trainer Dean Mawby, from the Real Strength Studio in Castlemaine, said he had to pinch himself at the 32-year-old’s exploits.

“I feel there is still a lot more to come from Kevin,” he said.

“I think he has set himself up for an extraordinary year next year.”

Mawby labelled Gray’s new world record squat as “the strongest lift, pound for pound, in the history of drug tested powerlifting.”

Gray showed remarkable persistence after failing at his first attempt at his former world record mark of 227.5kg.

He was successful with his second lift before shattering the mark by 17.5kg with his third.

His 245kg squat is exactly 60kg heavier than the previous national record for the under 59kg class when Kevin first entered competition less than two years ago.

It exceeds the current national records in the under-66kg division, which is 22.5 kg, and under-74kg class of 242.5kg.

A tilt at next year’s Oceania games and world championships are on the cards for Bendigo’s pocket dynamo.