Relatively few people have deadlifted 500 pounds. Even fewer people have bench pressed 500 pounds. So when someone bench presses over a thousand pounds (453.6kg), we have a little trouble processing it.
Like hearing astronomers describe the size of the universe, we can hear the numbers but we can’t fully comprehend them. It wouldn’t count in competition, but Blaine Sumner moved one thousand and twenty-five pounds (465kg) over his chest. He called this “the single best training lift I have ever performed in my entire life.” We believe it.
This is an equipped lift that he performed in a single ply bench press shirt, but this would be extraordinary even in multi ply. It’s 1,025 pounds.
That’s over a hundred pounds heavier than Sumner’s IPF world record equipped bench press of 904 pounds (410kg), but it’s worth pointing out that this is closer to a board press than a bench press, since he admits that there was a two-inch gap between his body and the bar. In the comments he emphasizes that there’s a “Big difference between being 2” away from touching and hitting it clean in a meet.”
But guys. It’s 1,025 pounds.
He posted the following caption that gives something of an idea of what it’s like to hold a thousand-plus pounds over your head.
I had something burning inside of me tonight and I obliterated this 1,025 pounds. The pain and pressure in my hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders is something I can’t begin to describe. I felt like my arm bones were bending. My hands are swollen and bruised, my arms are throbbing. But I asked for this and I love it – I wouldn’t have it any other way (…)
Powerlifters want to talk about strength as a skill, and there is no greater skill in the entire sport of powerlifting as the equipped bench press. People will comment on how silly it looks, and to the inexperienced viewer it looks that way. But there is no more magnificent or challenging feeling than I have felt holding 1,025 pounds over my face where one wrong move and bones and lives can break, while dealing with the pressure of feeling like bones are going to snap or passing out – whichever comes first.
[Read Blaine Sumner’s complete rundown on the differences between equipped and raw powerlifting — and why he hasn’t looked back since going equipped.]
This was Sumner’s final workout before his move to Wyoming, and we’re looking forward to all the insane lifts he’ll no doubt perform in his new home.
Featured image via @thevanillagorilla92 on Instagram.