Maddox’s quest for the 800-pound bench press is coming alongside properly.
On Apr. 13, 2023, powerlifter Julius Maddox shared an Instagram clip of himself finishing a uncooked 330-kilogram (727.5-pound) bench press throughout a coaching session. In his put up, Maddox lists the burden as 730 kilos, however that was a possible typo. So as to add an additional diploma of problem, the mighty Maddox performs the elevate with an extended pause on the backside of his repetition. Whereas it’s inconceivable to discern how a lot of a problem this added for Maddox on a numerical foundation, it’s undoubtedly a formidable feat for one of many globe’s premier bench pressers.
Maddox accomplished his feat whereas sporting wrist wraps and didn’t seem to have a lifting belt adorned round his torso.
Athletes who add any sort of pause to their bench press are probably on the lookout for elevated stress of their chest and arm muscle tissue. Protecting their loaded barbell on the backside forces the period of time an athlete has to maintain their weight steady earlier than lifting it again up. As well as, including a pause to a bench press removes the momentum athletes can generally use after reducing their weight.
All this to say: Maddox lifting virtually 730 kilos whereas pausing for almost two seconds is an accomplishment to behold.
For individuals who are rabid followers of higher physique power within the type of the bench press, Maddox often affords a deal with. The bench press extraordinaire owns the all-time uncooked World Document of 355 kilograms (782.6 kilos) within the +140-kilogram weight class. In response to Open Powerlifting, the athlete scored that mark on the 2021 World Uncooked Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown III. Notably, it was not in a full energy meet, as Maddox solely carried out a bench press on the contest — a standard method for the competitor each time he seems on a sanctioned lifting platform.
Maddox has been in pursuit of a 362.8-kilogram (800-pound) press for a while. One of many final instances Maddox shared vital progress on this power journey was a 361-kilogram (796-pound) bench press private report (PR) from Could 2022. Maddox has not added to that weight or made a proper try at reaching the 800-pound barrier since. Although, it seems an try may very well be forthcoming in 2023.
On the time of this writing, just one different individual, Daniel Zamani, has ever broached the 800-pound bench press barrier. The Iranian athlete notched a 365-kilogram uncooked bench press (804.7-pound) throughout a February 2022 coaching session. Maddox and Zamani had beforehand teased a pleasant bench press battle on the 2022 Iron Wars V, however that entanglement fell via resulting from undisclosed causes.
Tidbits like Maddox’s long-pause elevate present that his outstanding milestone may lastly be across the nook. Plus, provided that no individual has but to eclipse the uncooked 800-pound mark in an official competitors, Maddox can nonetheless win this all-time power race.
Featured picture: @irregular_strength on Instagram
