The sport of powerlifting obviously consists of three lifts, which are the squat, bench press and deadlift. The bench press is arguably the most notable of the three, as both professionals and standard gym goers seek to achieve supreme strength with it. Well, it is hard to argue that anyone has ever performed this lift more impressively than Jen Thompson. Despite her previous successes, Jen has outdone herself in her most recent training session. She did that by crushing a 335-pound (152-kilogram) bench press PR. This PR was also raw, since Thompson only used wrist wraps to aid her in completing it.
Jen Thompson also used her new 335-pound (152-kilogram) bench press PR as an opportunity to educate and motivate her followers. In an effort to achieve one rep max, she pointed out how much of a role mentality plays in the success of these attempts. Jen’s first attempt at claiming this PR was unsuccessful, but she took some time to reset her mind, then came back and managed to perform this incredible feat of strength effortlessly.
“There have been times I have failed the lift only to get mad and come back and get it.
Why? I stick by my earlier statement that 90% of this stuff is mental. Fear of failure? A new weight? Not excited enough about it. Or just feeling it in your hands that one time makes it easier to lift it again the second time…..”
Watch the lift here:
Related: Jennifer Thompson at 47, Solidifies G.O.A.T. Status with 330 lb. Raw Bench Press PR
Jen Thompson’s bodyweight at the time of the lift is unknown, but she usually competes in the 67.5-kilogram (148.8-pound) weight class. If she is currently weighing that much, then her new bench press PR would be 2.25x her bodyweight, which is absolutely mind-blowing.
At 49 years old, Jen Thompson has already built an impressive and lasting powerlifting career. She has completed over 100 sanctioned competitions since her debut at the 1999 USAPL National Bench Press Championships. Jen has too many victories to keep track of and has also broken World Records countless times.
Jen Thompson’s Competition PRs:
- Squat: 157.5 kilograms (347.2 pounds) — (2022 USAPL Mega Nationals)
- Bench Press: 145.5 kilograms (320.7 pounds) — (2022 USAPL Arnold A7 Pro Bench Bash)
- Deadlift: 207.5 kilograms (457.4 pounds) — (2018 USAPL Raw Nationals)
- Total: 502 kilograms (1,106.7 pounds) — (2022 USAPL Mega Nationals)
Related: Powerlifting Legend Jen Thompson Nails 300lb Bench Press!
It is not clear when Jen Thompson will compete again, but her 335-pound (152-kilogram) raw bench press PR shows that she is getting ready for something. It is no secret that she is one of the best pound-for-pound bench pressers in the world and she intends to maintain this status well into the future.
