Bench Press World Record

The bench press world record is currently held by Scot Mendelson. Scott, weighing 320 pounds, benched 1,008 pounds at the 2006 Iron Man Bodybuilding contest on February 18, 2006.

Prior to this, Gene Rychlak Jr., who weighs 380 pounds, benched 1,005 pounds in November 2004.

The bench press world record has really increased over the last few years. In the 1950s, the world record incremented from 400 pounds to 500. And it wasn't until 1967 that the 600 pound mark was broken. Then, the 700 pound mark was broken in 1985. 800 was finally benched in 2002.

These days bench pressers can wear special shirts, called a "bench shirt", that help protect them from injury, and can actually help them lift heavier.