Tian Tao’s leg strength is nothing short of legendary. His speed in standing up world record weight cleans is astonishing and in the current era perhaps akin to none other.
Below are examples of his insane leg strength. The first a 236 kg WR clean weighing just 93 kg, the second a 221 kg clean and jerk (unofficial WR) weighing 85 kg.
In terms of Tian Tao’s front and back squatting strength we have seen him hit a 250 kg paused front squat, a 300 kg back squat double, and a 310 kg back squat single. All 3 of these lifts are pretty maximal in terms of intensity and effort and so act as good markers of Tian’s strength as an 85 kg lifter.
Having gained another 10+ kg in body weight we are now able to see the fruits of Tian’s labour (so far) with regards to his new found leg strength. This video of his 320 kg back squat from last week is an incredible feat of strength. Tian’s leg strength fits almost perfectly with his current biggest rival Sohrab Moradi who also back squatted 310 kg at 85 kg body weight and 315 kg at 96 kg.
Bio
Tian Tao is the 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalist, the 2018 World Championships silver medalist, and the 2014 Asian Games champion. Born on the 4th April 1994. At the age of 17 at the Chinese Intercity Games Tian unofficially broke all of the youth world records in the 77 kg class, most spectacularly including a 205 kg clean and jerk, a lift that was not only 23 kg above the youth world record but also 3 kg over the junior world record.
2016 Rio Olympics – 85 kg – 178 kg / 217 kg / 385 kg – 2nd
2013 WWC Wroclaw – 85 kg – 160 kg/ – / – NA
2014 WWC Astana – 85 kg – 170 kg / 205 kg / 375 kg – 5th
2015 WWC Houston – 85 kg – 178 kg / – / – NA
2018 WWC Ashgabat – 96 kg – 181 kg / 226 kg WR / 407 kg – 2nd
2014 Asian Games – 85 kg – 163 kg / 218 kg / 381 kg – 1st