Kevin Gray sets sights on toppling his own powerlifting world record

BENDIGO’S world powerlifting record holder Kevin Gray will head to this month’s Asia Pacific Challenge in Sydney in excellent form.

On Monday, Gray squatted a personal best 242.5kg in training at the Real Strength Studio in Castlemaine.

The squat was 2.5kg above his existing world record of 240kg.

Gray and his trainer Dean Mawby have been keeping close tabs on emerging US lifter Mike Kuhns, who has been making plenty of noise about smashing the Bendigonians record.

But Kuhns was only able to squat 210kg in a weekend competition in Pennsylvania, an imposing 35kgs below Gray’s mark.

“Kuhns trains at 65kgs bodyweight and cuts to make weight at the under-59kg weight division,” Mawby said.

“There’s still 35kg between his and Kevin’s best lifts.

“Kevin's bench press has also moved a lot over the last six months, where he will go very close to bench pressing double body.”

Mawby believed Gray was on-target to squat 255-260kg at the Sydney Fitness Expo event from April 20-23.​