Kolb can now rely himself as a trailblazing pioneer.
Relating to among the strongest lifts in recorded historical past, powerlifter Jimmy Kolb now stands alone. On Feb. 4, 2023, through the 2023 Worldwide Powerlifting Affiliation (IPA) Hillbilly Havoc in Hurricane, WV, Kolb captured a 612.5-kilogram (1,350.3-pound) geared up bench press. The mark is an all-time World File and is formally the heaviest raise ever achieved in a sanctioned competitors. In response to Open Powerlifting, Kolb surpassed his personal earlier World File of 598.7 kilograms (1,320 kilos) from the 2022 IPA State Championships. The geared up press can also be the primary raise over 600 kilograms in any powerlifting division or class ever.
Along with being adorned with applicable wrist wraps and a lifting belt throughout his monumental feat, Kolb utilized a bench press shirt. The specialised gear provides an athlete an help in getting their weight off their chest whereas additionally “resisting” as the burden lowers towards the athlete. Kolb competed within the 140-plus-kilogram weight class, which he has maintained since January 2021, weighing in at an official 147.8 kilograms (326 kilos) for the latest record-setting contest.
The video of Kolb’s huge raise options a number of spotters readily available, giving him requisite assist. The athlete lowered his loaded barbell to his chest and struggled into place, preventing towards the sturdy bench press shirt, earlier than receiving the decide’s command to raise up. There gave the impression to be a measure of a pressure for Kolb, however he efficiently locked out the rep ultimately. As soon as in lockout place, the athlete held the burden securely earlier than the official readily available lastly allowed him to re-rack it.
In the identical video publish, Kolb’s pleasure in logging his document achievement was evident in displaying his official scorecard with a smile.
“At this time was a very good day.”
Earlier than Kolb’s new bench press accomplishment, Nathan Baptist was the closest athlete to the 600-kilogram barrier on any single raise, per Open Powerlifting. Baptist efficiently squatted 594.7 kilograms (1,311.7 kilos) for a 140-kilogram-plus World File on the 2021 United Powerlifting Affiliation’s (UPA) Utah Kickoff.
Notably, Kolb primarily participates in bench-press-only meets. Kolb has gained his final 9 contests courting again to February 2020, solely one among which was a full-power meet within the 2022 IPA 814 Energy Spectacular. In the end, in a comparatively prolific profession that started in April 2009, Kolb has solely fallen in need of a first-place outcome on eight events.
Now, as he notches one other legendary mark, Kolb can know all his exhausting work led to him making historical past as soon as once more.
Featured picture: @kolbstrong on Instagram
