World Best Bench Press Scores
The bench press test is a test of upper body strength, and for many weightlifters is considered the criterion measure of strength. Being able to bench your body weight is a target for many, but the record for the most weight bench pressed is much greater than that.
It must be noted that the different federations have subtly different rules on technique, the equipment that is allowed and whether performance enhancing drugs are tested for. With the advent of bench press shirts, which aid the lift by supporting the lifter's shoulders and provide upward force, the world records have increased significantly.
The current world record "raw" bench press (without a bench shirt) is 350kg / 770 lbs set by Julius Maddox Of Owensboro, Ky, USA in March 2020. These 'raw' records were achieved using wrist wraps. To be considered raw, no bench shirts are allowed; however, wrist wraps, singlets and belts are allowed. (see record video).
With the aid of a bench press shirt, the current record is by Tiny Meeker, who pressed 1102 lb / 500 kg in 2013. See videos of bench press record attempts.
Related Pages
- Procedure for Bench Press Fitness Testing
- Some 1 RM Bench Press results for athletes.
- Videos of bench press record attempts
- More Fitness Testing Records and other Sporting Records
- More Records? I scan the Internet for the latest athlete results. If you know of something I have missed, it would be great to hear from you.
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Old Comments
Commenting is closed on this page, though you can read some previous comments below which may answer some of your questions.
- Aj Allen (2020)
Julius Maddox set a new raw bench press record @ 770lbs and is going for 800lbs next! - updated! (rob, admin) - Marwan Razouk (2020)
Dino Bravo broke the record at 712 during the 1988 Royal Rumble! - Dmiley214 (2014)
actually as of 2013 Eric D. Spoto "Vanilla Gorilla" holds the raw record of 722lbs .....yes mendelson was out benched! - Rob Admin - Thanks, updated now, with video! - Rosbo (2015)
The actual record is held by Kyrill Sarychev. - Rob Admin - Thanks, I have updated the results - Tony Zackery (2020)
Who cares about how much he beat the previous record by??? He's the record holder. Period. - Robin Cook (2018)
So in 1976 I was shown a Folsom Prison inmate "yearbook", an archive if you will of inmate photos doing various activities. I do not remember the exact date of the yearbook, but in it was a photo of an inmate that I knew casually, named Big Lonnie Erickson (so named because he has a son named Little Lonnie Erickson). Under the photo was the caption "Big Lonnie Erickson sets the "unofficial" raw bench press world record at 770 lbs. (unofficial because he was incarcerated). He was a huge man standing 6'7" and weighing in at about 280 lbs. of solid muscle. He was built like an "X" if you know what I mean. BTW, he was serving a term for manslaughter for killing a man with his bare hands after the man had shot him in the back 7 times. - Adam (2016)
This site needs to rethink who finds the info for them. The world record is not Ryan Kennelly at 1075lbs. It's tiny meeker at 1102lbs. - Gerbilcrusader Adam (2016)
That was not official and he didn't lock as far as USPF/IPF rules! I think that's the heaviest attempted and performed but not official and Guinness world book of records. Official or unofficial it is an amazing feat. Strongmen have a hard time dead lifting that or squatting. Full competition requires all three lift totals! - Natelast week - Vince McMahon said Big John Stud benched 750 and if it happens on a wrestling show you can trust its real!
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