Julius Maddox Crushes a 330-Kilogram (727.5-Pound) Bench Press With a Lengthy Pause

Athletes who add any type of pause to their bench press are doubtless in search of elevated stress of their chest and arm muscle groups. Retaining their loaded barbell on the backside forces the period of time an athlete has to maintain their weight steady earlier than lifting it again up. As well as, including a pause to a bench press removes the momentum athletes can typically use after decreasing their weight.

All this to say: Maddox lifting nearly 730 kilos whereas pausing for practically two seconds is an accomplishment to behold.

For many who are rabid followers of higher physique power within the type of the bench press, Maddox often provides a deal with. The bench press extraordinaire owns the all-time uncooked World File of 355 kilograms (782.6 kilos) within the +140-kilogram weight class. In line with Open Powerlifting, the athlete scored that mark on the 2021 World Uncooked Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown III. Notably, it was not in a full energy meet, as Maddox solely carried out a bench press on the contest — a ordinary strategy for the competitor each time he seems on a sanctioned lifting platform.

Maddox has been in pursuit of a 362.8-kilogram (800-pound) press for a while. One of many final instances Maddox shared important progress on this power journey was a 361-kilogram (796-pound) bench press personal record (PR) from May 2022. Maddox has not added to that weight or made a proper try at reaching the 800-pound barrier since. Although, it seems an try might be forthcoming in 2023.