One Giant Lift for Mankind

[omelissokomos]

One Giant Lift for Mankind: The race for the 1,000-pound bench press.
By Josh Levin

For years, the bench press world record crept up slowly and steadily. In the 1950s, Canadian Doug Hepburn became the first man to bench 400, 450, and 500 pounds. In 1957, Hepburn told Muscle Power magazine that a 600-pound bench press was possible, but it wasn't until 1967 that Pat Casey cracked that barrier. Ted Arcidi broke 700 in 1985, and it took another 17 years until Ryan Kennelly benched 800 pounds in 2002. Now, just two years later, 10 men have benched 800, and a couple are closing in on 1,000. So, why have records that stood up to the strongest men in the world for 50 years crumbled in the last two?

A super-shirt, mostly.

Read all about it...

[ottomun6]

Yes, I think the lifting shirts have a lot to do with it, but I also think its a combination of more and more people getting into the sport and maybe today's supplements too.
I figure back in the 1950's, there weren't as many peole knowing about the weight lifting records. As time goes by, and we become more plugged into the world of news, the word spreads and more guys say to themselves that they can beat that record. Plus the social acceptance has improved, bring out more of the talented guys from the pool. Who knows, maybe there were guys capable of lifting 800+ lbs all through time but they never had anyone say "Why don't you try?"
What I mean to say is, records are records, they don't take into account each and every person on the planet.

[glammaman2000]

someone who sets a record shows what is possible.if you can win a bodybuilding contest with a 19"arm,why go for 20"?the 4-minute mile stood as an unreachable goal for a very long iime.until that was achieved,why go for under 4?