Bench press world records are the international records in bench press across the years, regardless of weight class or governing organization, for bench pressing on the back without using a bridge technique. The advent of bench press shirts, which support the lifter's shoulders and provide upward force, have increased records significantly (for example, when the shirted record was 965 lbs (438.64 kg), the unshirted record was just 713 lbs (323.41 kg)).[1]
| Year | Record |
|---|---|
| 1898 | Georg Hackenschmidt presses 361 lbs (164.09 kg).[2] |
| 1916 | Joe Nordquest presses 363 lbs (165 kg).[2] |
| 1950s | Doug Hepburn becomes the first man to bench 400, 450, and 500 pounds. In November 1950 he pressed 400 lbs (181.82 kg). He pressed 450 lbs (204.55 kg) in 1951, and 500 lbs (227.27 kg). in December 1953.[1][2] |
| 1967 | Pat Casey presses 615 lbs (279.55 kg). and becomes the first man to bench press over 600 lbs.[3] |
| 1971 | Jim Williams presses 635 lbs (288.64 kg) at the Eastern USA Open. Then in November, he presses 661 lbs (300.45 kg).[4][5] |
| 1972 | Jim Williams presses 675 lbs (306.82 kg) at the 1972 AAU World Powerlifting Championships.[3][6] |
| 1985 | Ted Arcidi is the first man to bench press over 700 lbs with a lift of 705 lbs (320.45 kg).[1][7] |
| 1993 | Anthony Clark presses 725 lbs (329.55 kg). in May and then in September breaks his own record with a 735 lbs (334.09 kg). lift.[8] |
| 1995 | Jamie Harris presses 740 lbs (336.36 kg).[9] |
| 1999 | Tim Isaac is the first man to bench press over 800 lbs with a lift of 802 lbs (364.55 kg).[10][11] |
| 2003 | Gene Rychlak is the first man to bench press 900 lbs (409.09 kg).[12] |
| 2004 | Gene Rychlak is the first man to bench press over 1000 lbs. with a lift of 1004 lbs (456.36 kg) in November [13] |
| 2006 | Scot Mendelson presses 1008 lbs (458.18 kg) in February.[13] |
| 2006 | Gene Rychlak presses 1010 lbs (459.09 kg) (December 16).[14] |
| 2007 | Ryan Kennelly presses 1036 lbs (470.91 kg). (September 22–23).[15] |
| 2007 | Ryan Kennelly presses 1050 lbs (477.27 kg). (December 1).[16] |
| 2008 | Ryan Kennelly presses 1070 lbs (486.36 kg). (April 12).[17] |
| 2008 | Ryan Kennelly presses 1074 lbs (488.18 kg). (July 12).[18] |
| 2008 | Ryan Kennelly presses 1075 lbs (488.64 kg). (November 8).[19] |