Today I’m talking to powerlifter Jimmy Kolb, the all-time record holder in the equipped bench press. In June 2021, he benched an astonishing 508 kilograms (or 1,120 pounds) in a single-ply bench shirt. It’s the heaviest bench press ever performed by a human. Jimmy joins us to talk about training as a bench specialist, his transition from raw to equipped lifting, misconceptions about equipped lifting, and pushing human performance past boundaries of what was once thought possible. It’s an interesting look at one of the most focused strength approaches we’ve ever seen.
(Learn more about Jimmy Kolb’s scholarship program for young lifters.)
On this episode of The BarBend Podcast, host David Thomas Tao talks to Jimmy Kolb about:
- Jimmy’s strength and sports background (01:40)
- Introduction to powerlifting competitions in a “rough and tough” environment (05:00)
- Jimmy’s military experience and regaining elite strength after his military career (08:10)
- Constantly pushing the barrier of upper body strength (12:20)
- It takes a village — and showing up to a meet with 20+ supporters (15:00)
- How raw equipped lifting came to eclipse equipped lifting in many lifters’ eyes (18:30)
- When is the weight going to be enough? (22:00)
Relevant links and further reading:
