There have not been many athletes in any sport as dominant as Jimmy Kolb is in the Equipped Bench Press event. In addition, he has once again improved upon his own World Record, thus discouraging anyone who is hoping to catch up with him. His new historic feat of strength was made at the 2023 IPA Tri-Star Bash, which took place on July 29th, in Elizabethton, TN. Jimmy only had one goal going into the competition, and that was to land a 635.5-kilogram (1,401-pound) equipped bench press. Jimmy, fully aware of his capabilities, carefully selected the perfect target and accomplished the remarkable feat of setting the Heaviest Lift in Powerlifting History.
Jimmy Kolb decided to go all out from his first attempt, and decided to immediately try to bench press 635.5 kilograms (1,401 pounds). However, he was not successful in his first, or second, attempts. With everything on the line, Jimmy stayed calm and collected, ultimately finding success on his final attempt.
The previous All-Time Equipped Bench Press World Record was also held by Jimmy Kolb. It stood at 612.5 kilograms (1,350.3 pounds), which Jimmy achieved at the 2023 IPA Hillbilly Havoc. This World Record was also the Heaviest Lift In Powerlifting. So, with his new bench press of 635.5 kilograms (1,401 pounds), Jimmy further advanced both aforementioned achievements.
Some people are not fans of the Equipped Bench Press event because of the custom “shirts” that the athletes wear. However, other events in powerlifting, such as squats and deadlifts, also have equipped divisions where athletes use special-made suits to help them lift significantly more weight. Still, the World Records in those events are nowhere near close to Jimmy Kolb’s 635.5-kilogram (1,401-pound) Equipped Bench Press.
Heaviest Equipped Deadlift: Andy Bolton (457.5-kg / 1,008.6-kg)
*Note: These achievements are only regarding the sport of powerlifting. This is because other sports, such as Strongman, have different rules and regulations.
Even other powerlifters who are Equipped Bench Press specialists are not able to rival Jimmy Kolb, proving just how incredible he is. In fact, Jimmy Kolb is the first and only man to reach the 1,200-lb / 1,300-lb/ and now 1,400-lb milestones in the Equipped Bench Press.
For reference, the next heaviest equipped bench press after Jimmy Kolb belongs to Will Barotti, who locked out 521.6 kilograms (1,150 pounds). So, Jimmy is in the lead by exactly 113.9 kilograms (251 pounds).
Jimmy Kolb has been competing in powerlifting since 2009, and the equipped bench press has always been his main focus. He has taken part in over 51 sanctioned competitions so far and won 42 of them.
Jimmy Kolb’s Competition PRs
Squat (Equipped): 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds)
Bench Press (Equipped): 635.5 kilograms (1,401 pounds) — Heaviest Lift In Powerlifting History & ATWR
Deadlift (Equipped): 317.5 kilograms (700 pounds)
Total (Equipped): 1,093.1 kilograms (2,410 pounds)
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
To make Jimmy Kolb’s new 635.5-kilogram (1,401-pound) Equipped Bench Press even more impressive, he has managed to achieve it without using any PEDs. This is evident from an official sheet from the competition displayed on Kolb’s Instagram story, which shows that he was drug-tested. So, he has once again secured his place in the history of powerlifting, but it is very likely that he will be setting his sights on an even heavier bench press very soon.
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Vedad is a journalist specializing in strength sports, with three years of experience covering powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, strongman, armwrestling and bodybuilding. He is a lifelong fitness enthusiast, passionate about all aspects of strength training. Vedad's in-depth knowledge of training methodologies and dedication to constant research fuel his insightful and engaging reporting. He works hard to deliver accurate content while continuously seeking to improve his craft.
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